over 


ma 


"TAKING  A  LITTLE  TRIP,  EH?"     REMARKED  THE  RAILROAD 

LAWYER.  — Frontispiece — ( Pag  e  126. ) 
T**  Ktver  Boy$  in  ffew  York. 


THE  ROVER  BOYS 
IN  NEW  YORK 


BY 

ARTHUR  M.  WINFIELD 

(Edward  Stratemeyer) 

AUTHOR  OF  THE  ROVER  BOYS  AT  SCHOOL,  THE 

ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  OCEAN,  THE  PUTNAM 

HALL  SERIES,  ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED 


NEW    YORK 
(GROSSET    &    DUNLAF 

PUBLISHERS 

Made  in  the  United  States  of  America 


BOOKS  BY  ARTHUR  M.  WINFIELP 

(Edward  Stratemeyer) 


THE  FIRST  ROVER  BOYS  SERIES 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  AT  SCHOOL 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  OCEAN 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  JUNGLE 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  OUT  WEST 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  GREAT  LAKES 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  CAMP 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  LAND  AND  SEA 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  RIVER 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  PLAINS 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  SOUTHERN  WATERS 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  FARM 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  TREASURE  ISLE 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  AT  COLLEGE 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  DOWN  EAST 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  ALASKA 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  BUSINESS 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  A  TOUR 


THE  SECOND  ROVER  BOYS  SERIES 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  AT  COLBY  HALL 


THE  PUTNAM  HALL  SERIES 

THE  PUTNAM  HALL  CADETS 
THE  PUTNAM  HALL  RIVALS 
THE  PUTNAM  HALL  CHAMPIONS 
THE  PUTNAM  HALL  REBELLION 
THE  PUTNAM  HALL  ENCAMPMENT 
THE  PUTNAM  HALL  MYSTERY 

I2tno.    Cloth.    Illustrated. 


GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  Publishers,  New  York 


COPYRIGHT,  1913,  BY 

EDWARD  STRATEMEYER, 

The  Rover  Boys    in  New  Xork 


StacK 

1   -' 

7 


INTRODUCTION 

MY  PEAR  BOYS:  This  volume  is  a  complete 
story  in  itself,  but  forms  the  seventeenth  in  a 
line  issued  under  the  general  title  of  "  The 
Rover  Boys  Series  for  Young  Americans." 

As  I  have  mentioned  several  times,  in  other 
volumes,  this  line  was  started  with  the  publka- 
tion  of  "  The  Rover  Boys  at  School,"  "  On  the 
Ocean  "  and  "  In  the  Jungle."  The  cordial  re- 
ception afforded  the  stories  called  for  the  pub- 
lication of  the  next  volume,  "  The  Rover  Boys 
Out  West,"  and  then,  year  after  year,  by  the  is- 
suing of  "On  the  Great  Lakes,"  "In  Camp," 
"  On  Land  and  Sea,"  "  On  the  River,"  "  On  the 
Plains,"  "In  Southern  Waters,"  "On  the 
Farm,"  "On  Treasure  Isle,"  "At  College," 
"  Down  East,"  and  then  by  "  In  the  Air,"  where 
we  last  met  them. 

The  boys  are  not  as  young  as  they  once  were 
— indeed,  in  this  book,  Dick,  the  oldest,  gets 
married  and  settles  down  to  business.  But  all 
are  as  bright  and  lively  as  ever,  and  Torn  is  just 


INTRODUCTION 

as  full  of  fun.  When  they  go  to  New  York 
City  they  have  some  strenuous  times,  and  all 
prove  their  worth  in  more  ways  than  one.  Their 
father  is  in  deep  trouble  and  they  aid  him,  and 
clear  up  quite  a  mystery. 

Up  to  this  writing,  the  sale  on  this  line  of 
books  is  but  a  trifle  short  of  one  million  and  a 
quarter  copies!  This  is  to  me,  of  course,  tre- 
mendously gratifying.  Again,  as  in  the  past,  I 
thank  my  many  readers  for  their  interest  in  what 
I  have  written  for  them,  and  I  trust  the  perusal 
of  my  works  will  do  them  good. 

Affectionately  and  sincerely  yours, 

EDWARD  STRATEMEYER 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

I.  THE  BOYS  AT  BRILL »,.....  i 

II.  ABOUT  THE  PAST 1 1 

III.  A  USELESS   HUNT 22 

IV.  THE  END  OF  THE  "  DARTAWAY  " 33 

V.  Two  VISITORS 44 

VI.  THE  MISSTNC  BIPLANB 55 

VII.  THE  SALE  OF  THE  BIPLANE 66 

VIII.  A  Box  OF  CANDY 76 

IX.  A  BREAKDOWN  ON  THE  ROAD 87 

X.  STARTLING  NEWS 98 

XL  AT  THE  FARM 109 

XII.  OFF  FOR  NEW  YORK 120 

XIIL  AT  THE  OUTLOOK  HOTEL 131 

XIV.  DICK   MAKES   A   DISCOVERY 142 

XV.  AT  THE  BROKERS'  OFFICE 153 

XVI.  MORE   DISCOVERIES 164 

XVII.  AN  IMPORTANT  TELEPHONE  MESSAGE 175 

XVIII.  ON  THE  HUDSON  RIVER 186 

XIX.  THE  SEARCH  FOR  THE  SCHOONER 197 

XX.  A  MINUTE  Too  LATE 2°7 

XXI.  CAPTAIN    RODNEY'S    TESTIMONY 20^ 

XXII.  HOT  ON  THE  TRAIL 22^ 

v 


vi  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XXIII.  THE  RESCUE 233 

XXIV.  FROM  A  GARRET  WINDOW 241 

XXV.  WHAT  HAPPENED  TO  TOM 249 

XXVI.  DICK  TAKES  THE  REINS 257 

XXVII.  DAN  BAXTER  GIVES  AID. 265 

XXVIII.  THE  CAPTURE 273 

XXIX.  BROUGHT  TO  TERMS 281 

XXX.  MRS.   DICK   ROVER—  CONCLUSION 289 


THE  ROVER  BOYS 
IN  NEW  YORK 

CHAPTER   I 

THE  BOYS  AT   BRILL 

"  BOYS,  what  do  you  say  to  a  trip  in  the 
Dartaway  this  afternoon  ?  " 

"  Suits  me,  Sam,"  replied  Tom  Rover. 

"  Providing  the  breeze  doesn't  get  too  strong," 
returned  Dick  Rover,  as  he  put  up  his  hand  to 
feel  the  air. 

"Oh,  I  don't  think  it  will  blow  too  much," 
went  on  Sam  Rover.  "  I  don't  mind  some  air." 

"  But  no  more  storms  for  me ! "  cried  his 
brother  Tom,  with  a  shake  of  his  head.  "  That 
last  old  corker  was  enough  for  me." 

"  Where  shall  we  go  ?  "  questioned  Dick,  with 
a  queer  little  smile  creeping  around  the  corners 
of  his  mouth. 

"  Oh,  my,  just  to  hear  Dick ! "  cried  Tom, 
with  a  grin.  "  "As  if  he  would  go  anywhere  but 
to  Hope  Seminary,  to  call  on  Dora ! " 

"  And  as  if  you  would  go  anywhere  but  to  call 
on  Nellie,  at  the  same  place,! "  retorted  the  oldest 
Rover  boy. 


2     THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  Now,  children,  children ! "  came  sweetly 
from  Sam.  "  You  mustn't  quarrel  about  the 
dear  girls.  I  know  both  of  you  are  as  much  gone 
as  can  be.  But " 

"And  how  about  Grace,  Sam?"  said  Tom. 
"  Didn't  I  hear  you  making  up  some  poetry 
about  her  yesterday,  *  Those  limpid  eyes  and 
pearly  ears,  and ' " 

"  Rats,  Tom !  I  don't  make  up  poetry — I 
leave  that  to  Songbird,"  interrupted  the  young- 
est Rover  boy.  "  Just  the  same,  it  will  be  nice 
to  call  on  the  girls.  They'll  be  looking  for  us 
some  day  this  week." 

"  That's  right — and  maybe  we  can  give  them  a 
little  ride,"  put  in  Dick  Rover. 

"Do  you  remember  the  ride  we  gave  Dora 
and  Nellie,  when  we  rescued  them  from  Sobber, 
Crabtree,  and  the  others  ?  "  asked  Tom. 

"  Not  likely  to  forget  that  in  a  hurry,"  an- 
swered his  big  brother.  "  By  the  way,  I  wonder 
when  the  authorities  will  try  those  rascals?" 

"Not  right  away,  I'm  thinking,  Dick,"  an- 
swered Tom.  "  The  law  is  rather  slow  up  here 
in  these  back  counties." 

"Never  mind— they  will  get  what  is  coming 
to  them  sooner  or  later,"  was  Sam's  comment. 
"  Abduction  is  rather  a  serious  offense/' 

"  Right  you  are,"  answered  Dick.     "  And  I'll 


THE   BOYS   AT    BRILL  3 

be  glad  to  see  Crabtree,  Sobber,  and  our  oth^r 
enemies  behind  the  bars.  Then  they  won't  be 
able  to  bother  us  any  more." 

"  That  will  be  the  end  of  Sobber's  efforts  to 
annex  the  Stanhope  fortune,"  mused  Sam. 
"  How  hard  he  did  try  to  get  it  away  from 
Mrs.  Stanhope  and  the  girls !  " 

"  I  shouldn't  have  minded  that  had  he  used 
fair  methods,  Sam,"  returned  the  big  brother. 
"But  when  it  came  to  stealing  and  abduct- 
ing " 

"  Hello,  you  fellows ! "  shouted  a  voice  from 
behind  the  Rover  boys.  "  Plotting  mischief?  " 

"Not  just  now,  Stanley,"  answered  Dick,  as 
his  college  chum  caught  him  by  the  shoulder  and 
swung  him  around  playfully. 

"  Want  to  go  for  a  row  on  the  river?  "  asked 
Stanley  Browne. 

"  Not  just  now,  Stanley.  I've  got  a  lecture  to 
attend,  and  this  afternoon  we  are  going  over  to 
Hope  in  the  biplane." 

"  Wish  I  had  a  flying  machine,"  said  the  stu- 
dent, wistfully. 

,    "Better  swap  the  boat  for  one,"   suggested 
Sam. 

"  No,  I  think  rowing  is  safer.  Some  day,  if 
you  are  not  careful,  you'll  get  an  awful  tumble 
from  that  machine." 


4    THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"We  try  to  be  as  careful  as  possible,"  an- 
swered Dick.  "Seriously,  though,  Stanley,  I 
don't  care  for  flying  as  much  as  I  thought  I 
would." 

"  Is  that  so?  Now,  I  thought  you  were  plan- 
ning a  honeymoon  trip  by  aeroplane.  Think  of 
the  novelty  of  it! " 

"  No,  a  steamboat  or  a  parlor  car  will  be  good 
enough  for  me,  when  I  go  on  a  honeymoon  trip/' 
answered  Dick,  and  for  a  very  good  reason  he 
blushed  deeply. 

"Hello,  William  Philander  Tubbs!"  cried 
Tom,  as  a  tall,  dudish-looking  student  crossed 
the  college  campus.  "  What's  the  price  of  eggs 
this  morning?  " 

"What  is  that,  Tom?"  questioned  the  styl- 
ishly-dressed youth,  as  he  turned  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  others. 

"I  asked  what  was  the  price  of  eggs?"  said 
Tom,  innocently. 

"The — er — the  price  of  eggs?  How  should 
I  know  ?  "  stammered  William  Philander  Tubbs,{ 
in  astonishment. 

"  Weren't  you  in  the  chicken  business  once  ?  " 

"  Gracious  me !    No,  Tom,  no !  " 

"  Funny  I  made  the  mistake — and  I  want  to 
know  the  price  of  eggs  the  worst  way,"  went 
on  the  fun-loving  Rover,  innocently. 


THE  BOYS  AT  BRILL  $ 

"What  do  you  want  to  know  the  price  of 
eggs  for?  "  questioned  William  Philander,  curi- 
ously. 

"  Why,  you  see,  we've  got  a  new  problem  in 
geometry  to  solve,  and  the  price  of  eggs  will 
help  out,"  continued  Tom,  looking  very  serious. 

"Wrhat  is  it,  Tom?" 

"  It's  this,  Tubby,  my  boy.  If  the  diameter 
of  an  egg  ten  degrees  west  of  its  North  Pole 
is  two  and  eleven-tenths  inches,  what  is  the  value 
of  the  shell  unfilled?  I  thought  you  might  help 
me  out  on  that." 

"  Tom,  you  are  poking  fun  at  me ! "  cried  the 
dudish  student,  as  a  snicker  went  up  from  the 
other  youths.  "  And  please  don't  call  me 
Tubby,  I  beg  of  you,"  pleaded  William  Phi- 
lander. 

"  All  right,  Billy  Gander,"  murmured  Tom. 
"  It  shan't  occur  again." 

"  Billy  Gander !  That  is  worse  than  Tubby !  " 
groaned  the  dudish  youth.  "  Oh,  you  are  aw- 
ful !  "  he  added,  and  strode  off,  trying  to  look 
very  indignant. 

"  Poor  Tubbs,  I  wonder  if  he  will  ever  be  sen- 
sible and  get  over  his  dudish  ways,"  was  Dick's 
comment. 

"  I  doubt  it — for  it  seems  to  be  born  in  him," 
returned  Sam. 


6     THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

11  But  he's  a  good  sort  with  it  all/'  ventured 
Stanley  Browne, 

"First-rate,"  agreed  Tom.  "But  I— well,  I 
simply  can't  help  poking  fun  at  him  when  he's 
around,  he's  such  a  dandy,  and  so  lordly  in  his 
manner/' 

"Here  comes  Songbird!"  interrupted  Sam. 
"And,  see,  he  is  writing  verses,  as  usual.  I 
wonder " 

"Look!"  exclaimed  Dick.  "Oh!  There's  a 
collision  for  you  1  " 

William  Philander  Tubbs  had  started  across 
the  campus  with  his  head  high  in  the  air.  He 
was  looking  to  one  side  and  did  not  notice  the 
approach  of  another  student,  who  was  coming 
forward  thoughtfully,  carrying  a  pad  in  one 
hand  and  writing  as  he  walked.  There  was  a 
sudden  meeting  of  the  pair,  and  the  pad  fell  to 
the  ground  and  with  it  the  fancy  headgear  the 
dudish  student  was  wearing. 

"  Oh,  I — er — I  beg  your  pardon,  really  I  do, 
don't  you  know!"  stammered  William  Philan- 
der. 

"  Great  Hannibal's  tombstone !  "  spluttered 
the  other  student.  "  What  are  you  trying  to  do, 
Tubbs,  knock  me  down  ?  " 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Powell,  I  didn't  see  you 
coming,"  answered  the  other,  as  he  picked  up 


his  hat  and  commenced  to  brush  it  off  with 
care. 

"You  must  be  getting  blind,"  growled  John 
Powell,  otherwise  known  as  Songbird.  "  Con- 
found the  luck — you  spoilt  one  of  my  best 
rhymes,"  he  added,  as  he  stooped  to  pick  up  his 
writing  pad. 

"  Sorry,  upon  my  honor  I  am,"  returned  Wil- 
liam Philander.  "Can  I  help  you  out  on  it?" 

"  I  don't  think  you  can.  Did  you  ever  try  to 
write  poetry — real  poetry,  I  mean  ?  " 

"  No,  my  dear  boy,  no.  I'm  afraid  I  would 
not  be  equal  to  it." 

"  Then  I  don't  see  how  you  are  going  to  help 
me,"  murmured  Songbird,  and  he  passed  on  a 
few  steps,  coming  to  a  halt  presently  to  jot  down 
some  words  on  his  pad. 

"  Hello,  Songbird!  "  called  out  Tom.  "  How 
is  the  Muse  to-day,  red-hot?  " 

For  a  moment  John  Powell  did  not  answer, 
but  kept  on  writing.  Then  his  face  broke  out 
into  a  sudden  smile 

"  There,  that's  it!  "  he  cried.  "  I've  got  it  at 
last!  I  knew  I'd  get  it  if  I  kept  at  it  long 
enough/' 

"  Knew  you'd  get  what,  the  measles  ?  "  asked 
the  fun-loving  Tom. 

"'Measles'  nothing!"  snorted  the  would-be 


8  THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

poet.  "I  have  been  writing  a  poem  on  'The 
Springtime  of  Love,'  and  I  wished  to  show 
how " 

"'The  Springtime  of  Love!"  interrupted 
Tom.  "That  must  be  a  second  cousin  to  the 
ditty  entitled  "Tis  Well  to  Meet  Her  at  the 
Well.'  " 

"  I  never  heard  of  such  a  poem,"  answered 
Songbird,  with  a  serious  air.  "  How  does  it 
go?" 

"It  doesn't  go,  Songbird;  it  stands  still.  But 
what  have  you  got  on  the  pad?  " 

"  Yes,  let  us  hear  the  latest  effusion,"  put  in 
Sam. 

"  But  not  if  it  takes  too  long,"  was  Dick's 
comment.  "  I've  only  got  about  ten  minutes  be- 
fore that  lecture  on  '  The  Cave  Dwellers.' ' 

"  I  can  give  Songbird  six  minutes,"  said  Stan- 
ley, as  he  consulted  >his  watch. 

"This  is — er — something  of  a  private  poem," 
stammered  Songbird.  "  I  wrote  it  for  a — er — 
for  a  personal  friend  of  mine." 

"  Minnie  Sanderson !  "  cried  Sam,  mentioning 
the  name  of  a  farmer's  daughter  with  whom  all 
were  well  acquainted,  and  a  young  lady  Song- 
bird called  on  occasionally. 

"  Read  it,  anyway,  Songbird,"  said  Dick. 

"  Well,  if  you  care  to  hear  it,"  responded  the 


THE   BOYS   AT   BRILL  9 

would-be  poet,  and  he  began  to  read  from  the 
pad: 

"  In  early  Spring,  when  flowers  bloom 

In  garden  and  on  fields  afar, 
My  thoughts  go  out  to  thee,  sweet  love, 

And  then  I  wonder  where  you  are ! 
When  pansies  show  their  varied  hues 

And  birds  are  singing  as  they  soar, 
I  listen  and  I  look,  and  dream 

Of  days  when  we  shall  meet  once  more !  " 

"  Grand !  fine !  immense !  "  murmured  Tom. 
"  Byron  couldn't  hold  a  candle  to  that,  Song- 
bird!" 

"  I  listen  to  the  tiny  brook 

That  winds  its  way  o'er  rock  and  sand 
And  in  the  running  water  see 
A  face  that— that— that " 

"  Go  ahead,  Songbird ! "  cried  Sam,  as  the 
would-be  poet  stumbled  and  halted. 

"I— er— I  had  the  last  line,  but  Tubbs 
knocked  it  out  of  me,"  grumbled  Songbird. 
"And  say,  he  knocked  something  else  out  of 
'Hie !  "  he  exclaimed  suddenly.  "  I  was  going  to 
tell  you  an  important  bit  of  news." 

"  You  were?  "  cried  Dick.     "  What?  " 

"  The  word  just  came  in  over  the  telephone, 
from  the  weekly  newspaper  office.  Doctor  Wai- 


10         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

lington  said  you  would  want  to  know  about  it."' 

"But  what  is  it?"  demanded  Sam,  impa- 
tiently. 

"Josiah  Crabtree  has  escaped  from  jail." 

"  Escaped !  "  ejaculated  Tom. 

"  Why,  we  were  just  talking  about  him ! "  put 
in  Dick-  "When  did  this  happen?" 

"Last  night,  so  the  newspaper  man  said.  It 
seems  there  was  a  small  fire  at  the  jail — down  in 
the  kitchen.  There  was  great  excitement,  for 
supper  was  just  being  served.  In  the  excite- 
ment three  of  the  prisoners,  who  were  out  of 
their  cells,  escaped.  Josiah  Crabtree  was  one  of 
them." 

"  Too  bad ! "  murmured  Sam.  "  And  we 
thought  he  was  safe!" 

'  This  spells  Trouble  for  us,"  was  Tom's 
comment,  and  Dick  nodded  his  head,  to  show- 
that  he  was  of  the  same  opinion. 


CHAPTER  II 

ABOUT     THE     PAST 

"  DID  you  get  any  more  particulars?  "  asked 
Sam,  of  the  college  poet. 

"  No.  The  newspaper  man  was  busy,  so  the 
Doctor  said,  and  didn't  have  time  to  go  kito 
details,"  answered  Songbird. 

"  Did  -he  say  who  the  other  prisoners  were 
who  got  away  ?  "  asked  Dick. 

"  Yes,  a  tramp  who  was  tip  for  robbing  a 
man  on  the  road  and  a  bank  clerk  who  took 
some  money  from  the  bank." 

"  None  of  the  crowd  we  are  interested  in,'* 
said  Tom. 

"  I'm  glad  of  it,"  returned  his  older  brother. 
"  It  is  bad  enough  for  Crabtree  to  get  away.  I 
hope  they  keep  a  strict  guard  over  the  otters 
after  this." 

"Oh,  they  will,  rest  assured  of  that,"  cames 
from  Stanley  Browne.  "  The  head  jailer  will 
get  a  raking  over  the  coals  for  this,  mark  my 
words." 

"  The    Stanhopes    and    the    Lanings    will    be 
ii 


12         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

sorry  to  learn  that  Crabtree  got  away,"  said  Sam. 

V  I  wonder  if  they  aren't  searching  for  him," 
mused  Sam. 

"Oh,  they'll  search  for  all  of  them,"  put  in 
Songbird.  "  I  think  the  newspaper  man  said  the 
sheriff  had  a  posse  out." 

"  Too  bad ! "  said  Dick,  shaking  his  head 
gravely.  "  And  just  when  we  felt  sure  old 
Crabtree  wouldn't  be  able  to  give  us  any  more 
trouble!" 

"  It  beats  the  nation,  what  that  man  can  do !  " 
cried  Sam.  "  Maybe  he  hypnotized  one  of  the 
jailers — just  as  he  hypnotized  Mrs.  Stanhope 
years  ago. 

"  He'd  be  equal  to  it — if  he  got  the  chance," 
answered  Tom;  and  then  all  of  the  students  had 
to  go  in  to  their  classes. 

To  those  who  have  read  the  previous  volumes 
in  this  "  Rover  Boys  Series  "  of  books,  the  lads 
we  have  just  met  will  need  no  special  introduc- 
cion.  For  the  benefit  of  my  new  readers,  how- 
ever, let  me  state  that  the  Rover  boys  were  three 
in  number,  Dick  being  the  oldest,  fun-loving 
Tom  coming  next,  and  Sam  being  about  a  year 
younger  still.  When  at  home  they  lived  with 
their  father,  Anderson  Rover,  and  their  Uncle 
Randolph  and  Aunt  Martha  on  a  beautiful  farm 
called  Valley  Brook,  in  New  York  State. 


ABOUT   THE   PAST  13 

Years  before,  and  while  their  father  was  in 
Africa,  the  three  boys  had  been  sent  by  their 
uncle  to  Putnam  Hall  Military  Academy,  as  re- 
lated in  detail  in  the  first  volume  of  this  series, 
called  "The  Rover  Boys  at  School."  At  the 
Hall  they  had  made  a  number  of  friends,  includ- 
ing Songbird  Powell  and  the  dudish  student, 
William  Philander  Tubbs.  They  had  also  made 
some  enemies,  who  did  their  best  to  bring  the 
Rover  boys  to  grief,  but  without  success. 

A  term  at  school  had  been  followed  by  a  short 
cruise  on  the  ocean,  and  then  a  trip  to  the  jun- 
gles of  Africa,  whither  the,  lads  went  to  find 
their  father,  who  had  disappeared.  Then,  dur- 
ing vacation,  the  boys  took  a  trip  West,  and  then 
another  trip  on  the  Great  Lakes,  After  that 
they  went  in  the  mountains,  and  then  came  back 
to  Putnam  Hall,  to  go  into  camp  with  their 
fellow  cadets. 

This  term  at  Putnam  Hall  was  followed  by  a 
long  journey  on  land  and  sea,  to  a  far-away  is- 
land of  the  Pacific,  where  the  boys  and  their 
friends  had  to  play  "  Robinson  Crusoe  "  for  a 
while.  Then  they  returnd  to  this  country,  and, 
in  a  houseboat,  sailed  down  the  Ohio  and  the 
Mississippi  Rivers.  After  leaving  the  Missis- 
sippi they  took  an  outing  on  the  plains,  and 
then  went  down  into  southern  waters,  where, 


14 

in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  they  solved  the  mystery 
af  a  deserted  steam  yacht. 

"And  now  for  home  and  a  big  rest?"  said 
Dick,  and  they  went  back  to  the  farm.  But  here 
something  very  unusual  occurred,  and  the  boys 
had  as  lively  a  time  as  ever. 

While  at  school  the  three  Rover  boys  had  be- 
come well  acquainted  with  three  girls,  Dora  Stan- 
hope and  her  cousins,  the  two  Laning  sisters, 
Nellie  and  Grace.  Dora  was  the  only  daughter 
of  Mrs.  Stanhope,  a  widow,  and  soon  she  and 
Dick  became  the  warmest  of  friends,  while  Tom 
was  quite  taken  by  Nellie,  and  Sam  often 
"  paired  off "  with  Grace. 

In  those  days  Josiah  Crabtree  had  been  an 
instructor  at  Putnam  Hall.  He  was  very  dicta- 
torial, and  none  of  the  cadets  liked  him,  and  the 
Rovers  liked  him  still  less  when  they  learned 
that  he  was  trying  to  practically  hypnotize  Mrs. 
Stanhope  into  marrying  him,  so  that  he  could  get 
control  of  the  fortune  which  the  widow  was 
holding  in  trust  for  Dora.  They  foiled  the 
teacher's  efforts  to  wed  the  lady,  and  in  the  end 
Josiah  Crabtree  had  to  leave  Putnam  Hall. 
Later  still  he  was  arrested  for  some  of  his  mis- 
deeds and  given  a  short  sentence  in  jail. 

The  Stanhope  fortune,  as  a  part  of  the  money 
coming  to  the  Stanhopes  and  the  Lanings  was 


ABOUT    THE    PAST  15 

called,  had  come  to  Mr.  Stanhope  in  a  peculiar 
way,  and  some  outsiders  claimed  the  treasure, 
which,  at  that  time,  was  secreted  in  a  spot  among 
the  West  Indies  called  Treasure  Isle.  There 
\vas  a  lively  chase  to  get  there  first,  but  the 
Rovers  won  out,  and  because  of  this  their  ene- 
mies were  more  bitter  than  ever. 

The  boys  had  finished  their  term  at  Putnam 
Hall  and  on  their  return  home  became  students 
at  Brill  College,  a  fine  institution  of  learning  of 
the  Middle  West.  At  the  same  time  Dora,  Nel- 
lie, and  Grace  became  pupils  at  Hope  Seminary, 
located  not  many  miles  from  BritL  At  the  col- 
lege the  Rovers  made  many  friends,  including 
Stanley  Browne,  already  introduced,  and  Will, 
otherwise  known  as  "  Spud,"  Jackson,  a  lad  who 
loved  potatoes,  and  who  also  loved  to  tell  big 
yarns. 

A  term  at  college  had  been  followed  by  a  trip 
down  East,  taken  for  a  peculiar  reason,  and  then, 
while  on  a  visit  home,  the  three  lads  had  be- 
come the  possessors  of  an  up-to-date  biplane, 
which  they  named  the  Dartaway.  In  the  biplane, 
as  related  in  the  volume  before  this,  called  "  The 
Rover  Boys  in  the  Air,"  our  heroes  made  a 
somewhat  spectacular  trip  from  the  farm  to  the 
college  campus,  much  to  the  amazement  of  their 
fellow  collegians  and  their  instructors.  Later 


l6         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

tbey  made  a  trip  through  the  air  to  Hope  Semi- 
nary, and  at  that  time  Dick  was  delighted  to 
place  upon  Dora's  finger  a  diamond  engagement 
ring. 

A  short  while  later  an  alarming  thing  oc- 
curred. The  boys  were  out  in  the  Dartaway 
when  they  met  Grace  on  the  road  and  learned 
that  Dora  and  Nellie  had  been  abducted  by  Jo- 
siah  Crabtree,  Tad  Sobber,  and  some  of  their 
other  old  enemies.  They  gave  chase  in  the  bi- 
plane, and,  after  several  adventures,  located  the 
girls  in  a  lonely  mansion  in  the  country,  where 
they  were  prisoners,  in  charge  of  Sobber's  aunt. 
The  boys  at  once  went  for  the  authorities,  and, 
after  something  of  a  fight,  the  rascals  were  made 
prisoners,  and  the  girls  were  rescued  and  taken 
back  to  the  Seminary. 

"  You  will  appear  against  these  scoundrels  ?  " 
asked  the  sheriff,  Jackson  Fells,  of  the  Rover 
boys,  as  they  were  about  to  leave  the  sheriff's 
office  at  Plankville. 

"  We'll  appear  all  right  enough,"  Tom  had  an- 
swered. "Why,  Mr.  Sheriff,  you  couldn't  beat 
ius  away  with  a  club !  "  And  so  it  had  been  ar- 
ranged that  the  Rover  boys  should  appear  in 
court  against  the  evildoers  whenever  wanted. 
Then  Crabtree,  Sobber,  and  the  others  had  been 
put  under  lock  and  key  in  the  old-fashioned  coun- 


ABOUT    THE    PAST  17 

try  jail ;  and  there,  for  the  time  being,  the  matter 
had  rested. 

"  I  wish  we  could  learn  more  about  Crabtree's 
escape,"  remarked  Tom,  as  he  and  his  brothers 
entered  the  main  building  of  the  college. 

"  So  do  I,"  added  Sam.  "  Can't  we  telephone 
over  to  Plankville,  to  Sheriff  Fells?" 

"  More  than  likely  the  sheriff  is  out,  hunting 
for  Crabtree  and  the  others/'  answered  Dick. 
"  But  I'll  tell  you  what  we  might  do — if  the 
weather  stays  good,"  he  added,  suddenly. 

"Sail  to  Plankville  in  the  Dartaway?"  quer- 
ied both  of  the  others. 

"  Yes,  if  Doctor  Wallington  will  give  us  per- 
mission." 

"  He  ought  to — since  we  are  so  much  inter- 
ested in  this  case,"  returned  Tom. 

"  We'll  find  out,  as  soon  as  the  morning  ses- 
sion is  over,"  said  the  eldest  Rover  boy;  and 
then  all  hurried  to  their  classes,  for  the  final  bell 
had  ceased  to  ring. 

It  was  hard  work  for  the  boys  to  keep  their 
'  minds  on  their  lessons.  Dick,  especially,  was 
very  serious,  and  for  a  good  reason.  Something 
was  worrying  him  greatly — something  of  which 
Tom  and  Sam  knew  little.  What  it  was  we  shall 
learn  later. 

The  boys  had   a  quarter  of   an   hour  after 


18 

classes  before  going  to  lunch,  and  they  imme- 
diately sought  out  Doctor  Wallington,  whom 
they  found  in  his  private  office. 

"Yes,  it  is  too  bad  that  that  rascal  Crabtree 
escaped,"  said  the  head  of  the  college.  "  I  can 
well  imagine  that  you  are  worried — since  he  has 
caused  yon  and  your  friends  so  much  trouble  in 
the  past.  Let  us  hope  that  the  authorities  will 
quickly  recapture  him." 

"Have  you  had  any  further  word,  sir?" 
asked  Dick. 

"  I  had  word  at  eleven  o'clock,  from  the  news- 
paper office.  Up  to  that  time  he  had  not  been 
located." 

"  We  wish  to  ask  a  favor,"  went  on  Dick, 
and  spoke  about  the  proposed  trip  to  Plank- 
ville. 

"  Very  well,  you  may  go,  and  in  your  biplane 
if  you  deem  it  safe,"  said  the  worthy  doctor. 
Secretly  he  was  quite  proud  of  the  students'  suc- 
cess with  the  Dartaway,  as  it  had  advertised  Brill 
College  not  a  little. 

"Possibly  we  won't  be  able  to  get  back  until 
to-morrow,"  said  Tom.  "  We  may  be  detained, 
or  it  may  storm " 

'  Take  your  time  on  the  trip.  Only  be  care- 
ful that  you  have  no  accidents." 

"We'll   try  to  be   careful,"   answered   Dick^ 


ABOUT    THE   PAST  19 

with  a  grim  smile.  "  We  don't  want  a  tumble 
if  we  can  help  it." 

"  It  is  a  grand  sport,"  answered  the  head  of 
;the  college.  "  Before  long  I  expect  to  see  aero- 
planes in  constant  use." 

"  Wouldn't  you  like  to  go  up  with  us  some 
day,  Doctor?"  questioned  Tom,  slyly. 

"  Well — er — perhaps,  Thomas.  But  not  just 
yet.  I  wish — er — to  see  them  more  in  general 
use  first."  And  then  the  doctor  bowed  the  stu- 
dents out 

The  boys  lost  no  time  in  preparing  for  the 
,trip  to  Plank ville.  After  a  somewhat  hasty 
lunch  they  put  on  their  flying  suits  and  then 
went  down  to  where  the  Dartaway  was  housed, 
in  one  of  the  buildings  attached  to  the  gym- 
nasium, 

"  Looks  to  be  all  right,"  remarked  Dick,  after 
an  inspection  of  the  flying  machine,  and  while 
Sam  and  Tom  were  filling  the  gasoline  tank  and 
the  oil  distributor. 

The  engine  was  tried  out  for  a  minute,  and 
found  to  be  in  perfect  order.  As  usual,  as  soon 
as  the  explosions  of  the  motor  were  heard,  a 
crowd  commenced  to  gather,  to  see  the  start  of 
the  flight. 

"  Wish  you  luck !  "  cried  Stanley. 

"  Say,  look  out  that  you  don't  forget  how  fr 


20         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

stop  and  sail  to  the  North  Pole ! "  sang  out  Spud 
Jackson. 

"As  if  that  could  really  occur!"  murmured 
William  Philander  Tubbs,  with  a  lofty  look  of 
disdain.  , 

"  Sure  it  could  happen,"  returned  Spud,  good-' 
naturedly.  "  Why,  I  heard  of  an  airman  who 
went  up  once  and  forgot  how  to  turn  his  ma- 
chine down,  and  he  went  around  and  around  in 
a  circle  for  sixteen  hours.  And  then  he  dropped 
ker-plunk  right  on  top  of  a  baker's  wagon  and 
smashed  twenty-six  pies — all  because  his  gaso- 
line gave  out." 

"  Ridiculous !  "  murmured  William  Philander 

"  Absolute  fact,  Tubbs,"  responded  Spud,  ear- 
nestly. "  Come  with  me,  some  day,  and  Fll  show 
you  where  the  pies  made  a  dent  in  the  street 
when  the  flying  machine  struck  'em/'  And  then 
a  general  laugh  went  up,  and  the  dudish  student 
stepped  back  in  the  crowd,  out  of  sight 

"All  aboard!"  sang  out  Dick,  as  he  hopped 
into   the    driver's   seat    and   took    hold   of    the; 
wheel.     "  Start  her  up,  somebody ! " 

Sam  and  Tom  got  aboard  and  willing  hands; 
grasped  the  propellers  and  gave  each  a  twist. 
Bang !  bang !  bang !  went  the  explosions,  and  soon- 
the  propellers  were  revolving  swiftly,  and  then 
with  a  swoop  the  Dartaway  ran  over  the  campus 


ABOUT    THE    PAST  ti 

on  its  wheels  and  suddenly  arose  in  the  air.  A 
cheer  went  up,  and  the  students  threw  up  their 
caps.  Then  Dick  swung  around  in  a  quarter 
circle  and  headed  directly  for  Plankville. 

It  was  an  ideal  day  for  flying,  not  too  hot  or 
jtoo  coH,  and  with  very  little  breeze,  and  that  of 
the  "  steady  "  kind,  not  likely  to  develop  "  holes  " 
= — the  one  great  terror  of  all  airmen. 

"  Wish  we  had  the  girls  along,"  remarked 
Sam,  when  they  were  well  on  the  way. 

"  Not  for  this  trip,  Sam,"  answered  Dick, 
grimly.  "We  have  got  our  work  cut  out  for 
us."  ' 

"  Why,  wihat  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  If  old  Crabtree  hasn't  been  caught  yet  we 
must  see  if  we  can't  round  him  up." 


CHAPTER   III 

A    USELESS    HUNT 

"  SAY,  that's  the  talk ! "  cried  Tom,  quickly. 
"  I  hadn't  thought  of  that, — but  it's  just  what 
we  ought  to  do." 

"It  won't  be  easy,  Tom,"  said  his  younger 
brother.  "The  chances  are  that  Crabtree  has 
made  good  use  of  his  time.  He  may  be  hun- 
dreds of  miles  away — bound  for  the  West  or 
the  South,  or  Canada  or  Europe." 

"  Well,  we  can  have  a  try  at  finding  him,  any- 
way," put  in  Dick.  "  Sometimes  a  criminal 
sticks  close  to  the  jail  until  the  excitement  is 
over.  Look  at  those  fellows  who  escaped  from 
jail  in  New  York  City  not  long  ago.  The  de- 
tectives thought  they  had  gone  to  Chicago  or  St. 
Louis,  and  all  the  while  they  were  on  the  East 
Side,  right  in  New  York !  " 

"  Oh,  my !  but  wouldn't  I  just  like  to  land  on 
old  Crabtree !  "  muttered  Tom.  "  I  think  I'd  be 
apt  to  put  him  in  the  hospital  first  and  jail  after- 
wards! He  certainly  deserves  it — for  all  the 
trouble  he  has  caused  us  and  our — er — friends." 

22 


A    USELESS   HUNT  2J 

" '  Friends '  is  good,  with  Dick  engaged  to 
marry  Dora  and  you  as  good  as  engaged  to 
Nellie,"  snorted  Sam- 

"  Precisely,  and  you  and  Grace  making  goo- 
goo  eyes  at  each  other,"  added  Tom,  with  a 
wink  at  his  younger  brother.  Then  he  quickly 
changed  the  subject.  "Dick,  do  you  think  you 
can  strike  a  straight  course  for  Plank ville?" 

"  I'll  try  it,"  was  the  answer.  "  I  don't  think 
I'll  go  much  out  of  the  way." 

The  Dartaway  had  a  powerful  motor,  and 
once  on  the  right  trail  the  eldest  Rover  advanced 
his  gasoline  and  spark,  and  they  went  rushing 
through  the  air  at  express-train  speed.  The  boys 
were  provided  with  face  guards,  so  they  did  not 
mind  this.  They  did  not  fly  high,  and  so  kept 
the  railroad  and  other  familiar  objects  fairly 
well  in  view.  They  passed  over  several  villages, 
the  inhabitants  gazing  up  at  them  in  open- 
mouthed  wonder,  and  finally  came  in  sight  of  a 
big  church  spire  that  they  knew  belonged  in 
Plankville,  Then  Dick  slowed  down  the  engine, 
and  soon  they  floated  down  in  an  open  field  close 
to  the  main  street  and  not  a  great  distance  from 
vthe  sheriff's  office  and  the  jail. 

"Well,  it  certainly  didn't  take  long  to  get 
here,"  cried  Tom,  as  he  consulted  his  watch. 

A  man  who  lived  close  by  was  approaching 


24         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW.  YORK 

and  he  readily  agreed,  for  a  small  amount,  to 
guard  the  biplane. 

"Have  they  caught  those  men  who  escaped 
from  the  jail?  "  asked  Sam,  of  the  man. 

"  Got  two  on  'em,"  was  the  reply.  "  Backer 
and  Penfield." 

"What  of  Crabtree?"  asked  Dick. 

"  Nuthin'  doin',  up  to  an  hour  ago.  The  sher- 
iff is  out  with  about  ten  men,  lookin'  fer  him." 

"Then  there  is  no  use  of  our  going  to  the 
sheriff's  office,"  said  Dick  to  his  brothers- 
"  We'll  go  right  to  the  jail." 

"Will  they  let  us  in?"  asked  Sam. 

"  In  the  office,  yes.  We  won't  want  to  go  to 
the  cells,"  answered  Dick,  with  a  short  laugh. 

When  they  reached  the  office  of  the  jail  they 
found  several  men  present,  including  the  head 
keeper  and  one  of  the  State  detectives.  The 
keeper  had  seen  the  Rover  boys  at  the  time  of 
the  capture  of  Crabtree  and  the  others  and  he 
smiled  a  little  as  he  shook  hands. 

"  Bad  business,"  he  said,  in  answer  to  a  ques- 
tion Dick  put.  "  But  I  can't  exactly  blame  my 
men  for  what  happened." 

"Weren't  you  here  at  the  time?"  asked  Tom. 

"  No,  I  was  out  of  town — calling  on  my 
mother,  who  is  very  old  and  quite  sick.  There 
was  a  fire  in  the  pantry  off  the  kitchen,  and  for 


A    USELESS   HUNT  25 

a  few  minutes  it  looked  as  if  the  old  jail  would 
burn  to  the  ground.  Of  course  the  guards  got 
excited,  and  all  they  thought  of  was  to  put  out 
the  blaze — and  it's  a  good  thing  they  did  that. 
That's  how  the  prisoners  got  away.  I  suppose 
you've  heard  that  we  rounded  up  two  of  them." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Dick.  "  Have  they  any  idea 
what  became  of  Crabtree?" 

"  I  haven't.  If  the  sheriff  knows  anything 
he  hasn't  told  it.  By  the  way,  boys,  I'll  tell  you 
something,  now  you  are  here.  That  man  is  a 
hypnotist ! " 

"  We  know  it,"  said  Dick.  "  I  thought  I  told 
you." 

"  He  tried  to  hypnotize  one  of  the  men  one 
day, — almost  got  away,  doing  it ! " 

"Did  he  hire  any  lawyer  to  defend  him?" 
asked  Tom,  curiously. 

"  I  don't  know  about  a  lawyer.  He  had  a  man 
out  to  see  him,  several  times.  The  two  were 
very  friendly." 

"  They  were  ?  "  cried  Dick.  "  I  never  knew 
Josiah  Crabtree  had  any  friends,  outside  of  the 
rascals  he  associated  with.  Who  was  the 
man?" 

"  He  gave  his  name  as  John  Smith.  But  I 
guess  that  was  false,  for  he  acted  as  if  he  didn't 
want  to  be  known." 


26 

"What  kind  of  a  looking  man  was  he?" 
asked  Sam. 

"  Why,  he  was  a  tall,  thin  fellow  with  a  very 
pointed  chin,  and  bushy  black  hair  and  heavy 
black  eyebrows.  When  he  spoke  his  voice  had 
a  regular  rumble  to  it." 

At  this  description  the  Rover  boys  shook  their 
heads.  They  could  think  of  nobody  tfiey  had 
met  who  would  fit  the  picture. 

"  When  was  that  man  here  last?  "  asked  Dick. 

"  A  couple  of  days  ago.  I  didn't  like  him  for 
a  cent,  but  as  the  prisoners  haven't  been  con- 
victed of  any  crimes  as  yet  I  had  to  let  'em  see 
their  friends,"  explained  the  jail  keeper. 

"What  of  Sobber,  Larkspur  and  the  others?" 
questioned  Tom. 

"  All  safe  enough.  Nobody  else  is  going  to 
get  out  of  here  if  I  can  help  it,"  and  the  keeper 
shook  his  head  decidedly. 

The  boys  remained  at  the  jail  for  a  while 
longer,  and  heard  the  particulars  of  how  the  fire 
had  originated  and  of  how  the  prisoners  had 
gotten  away.  Two  of  the  men  had  kept  together, 
but  Crabtree  had  gone  off  by  himself,  and  the 
last  seen  of  him  was  when  he  was  running  for 
the  river,  which  flowed  some  distance  back  of 
the  jail. 

"  Let  us  go  down  to  the  river  and  take  a  look 


A    USELESS  HUNT  2? 

around,"  suggested  Dick,  at  last,  and  bidding  the 
jailer  good-bye,  they  hurried  away. 

Along  the  river  bank  they  found  several  men 
and  boys,  all  looking  for  Crabtree,  some  think- 
ing there  might  be  a  reward  offered  for  the  cap-, 
ture  of  the  criminal.  The  Rovers  joined  in  the 
hunt  for  the  best  part  of  an  hour,  but  without 
success. 

"  It's  worse  than  looking  for  a  pin  in  a  hay- 
stack," grumbled  Tom,  presently.  "  We  might 
as  well  give  it  up." 

"  Let  us  walk  around  the  town  and  see  if  we 
can  learn  anything,"  suggested  his  big  brother. 

They  walked  down  the  main  street  of  Plank- 
ville  from  end  to  'end,  questioning  several  peo- 
ple they  knew.  At  last  they  got  word  that  a 
mysterious  automobile  had  passed  through  the 
town  about  midnight  of  the  day  Josiah  Crab- 
tree  had  broken  from  jail.  But  who  had  been 
in  the  touring  car  nobody  could  tell. 

"  He  may  have  escaped  in  that,"  declared 
Dick. 

"And  if  he  did,  that  man  who  came  to  see>: 
him  at  the  jail  had  the  car,"  added  Sam. 

"Just  what  I  think,"  cried  Tom.  "Well,  if 
he  got  away  in  an  auto  there  is  no  use  of  our 
looking  for  him  here,"  he  added,  with  a  sigh. 

Nevertheless,  the  boys  hung  around  Plank- 


•2S         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

-ville  for  an  hour  longer.  Then  they  got  aboard 
of  the  Dartaivay,  and  with  Tom  at  the  wheel, 
and  Dick  with  a  pair  of  field  glasses  to  his  eyes, 
swung  in  several  circles  about  the  neighborhood. 

"No  use,"  declared  the  oldest  Rover  boy,  at 
'last     "It  is  getting  late.    We  might  as  well  re- 
turn to  college.     We  can  do  nothing  here." 

"  Haven't  we  got  time  to  go  to  Hope?  "  asked 
Sam,  a  bit  wistfully. 

"Well,  I  don't  know,"  answered  his  big 
brother,  just  as  wistfully. 

"Let  us  take  time — Doctor  Wallington  didn't 
want  us  to  hurry  back,"  put  in  Tom.  "  I  think 
the  girls  ought  to  know  about  this,  sa  as  to  be 
on  guard,  in  case  old  Crabtree  tries  to  molest 
them  again." 

As  the  lads  were  all  of  one  mind,  the  biplane 
was  headed  in  the  direction  of  Hope.  As  before, 
the  flying  machine  swung  through  the  air  at  a 
good  rate  of  speed,  and  half  an  hour  before  sun- 
down they  came  in  sight  of  the  Seminary  build- 
ings. 

"  Wonder  where  they  are?  "  mused  Dick,  as 
the  biplane  came  to  earth  at  the  spot  where  they 
/had  landed  before. 

"  If  they  are  around  they  must  have  heard 
us,"  answered  Tom.  "The  engine  makes  noise 
enough  to  wake  the  dead."  And  this  was  well 


A    USELESS   HUNT 


29 


expressed,  for  the  motor,  like  many  of  the  flying 
machine  kind,  had  no  muffler  attached,  and  the 
explosions  were  not  unlike  the  firing  of  a  gat- 
ling  gun. 

Some  girls  had  seen  them  come  down,  and( 
presently  the  boys  saw  three  figures  hurrying 
towards  them. 

"Oh,  what  made  you  come  so  late?"  cried 
Grace,  as  she  rushed  up  and  shook  hands  with 
Sam  and  then  with  the  others. 

"  We  thought  you  might  come  to-day,"  put 
in  Nellie,  as  she  beamed  on  Tom,  and  extended 
both  hands. 

"  I  heard  the  machine  first,"  declared  Dora, 
and  came  straight  to  Dick,  who  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  give  her  the  hearty  kiss  to  which  he 
thought  his  engagement  entitled  him. 

"  We  have  been  to  Plankville,"  came  from 
Tom  and  Sam,  in  a  breath. 

"Have  you  heard  the  news?"  questioned! 
their  big  brother,  and  he  looked  anxiously  from 
Dora  to  her  cousins. 

"  What  news  ?  "  cried  Dora,  quickly.  "  We 
have  heard  nothing  unusual." 

"  Josiah  Crabtree  broke  out  of  the  Plankvilk? 
jail  and  ran  away." 

"  Oh,  Dick ! "  and  Dora  grew  suddenly  pale. 
"  Do  you  really  mean  it  ?  " 


30         THE  ROVER   BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"  When  was  this  ?  "  demanded  Nellie. 

"  Tell  us  all  about  it,"  supplemented  Grace. 

"  We  can't  tell  you  any  more  than  what  we 
have  heard,"  answered  Sam.  "We  just  got 
word  ourselves  this  morning." 

Then  the  boys  told  their  story  and  answered 
innumerable  questions  which  the  girls  put  to 
them. 

"This  will  be  bad  news  for  mother,"  said 
Dora,  to  Dick.  "  She  is  afraid  of  Josiah  Crab- 
tree,  and  always  has  been — because  of  his 
strange  hypnotic  power." 

"I  don't  think  he  will  dare  to  show  himself — 
at  least,  not  for  a  while,  Dora,"  he  answered. 
"  He  knows  only  too  well  that  the  jail  is  wait- 
ing to  receive  him." 

"That  strange  man  with  the  bushy  eyebrows 
and  the  pointed  chin  must  have  helped  him  to 
get  away,"  was  Nellie's  comment. 

"  So  we  think,"  answered  Tom. 

"  But  who  was  he  ?  "  questioned  her  sister. 

:<  That's  a  conundrum  we  can't  answer,"  re- 
turned Sam.  "I  think  he  was  waiting  around 
with  that  auto,  and  as  soon  as  the  fire  started 
Crabtree  saw  the  chance  he  wanted  and  got  out." 

"Maybe  Crabtree  started  the  fire?"  sug- 
gested Dora. 

"  No,   that   was   purely   an   accident — so   the 


A    USELESS   HUNT  31 

jailer  says.  The  wind  blew  a  curtain  against  a 
lamp  and  the  burning  curtain  fell  into  some  ex- 
celsior in  a  box  of  new  dishes.  The  excelsior 
made  quite  a  blaze  and  a  lot  of  smoke,  and  every- 
body in  the  jail  was  badly  frightened  for  a 
while." 

After  that  the  talk  became  general,  and  quite 
unconsciously  Dick  and  Dora  strolled  off  by 
themselves,  down  towards  a  tiny  brook  that 
flowed  past  the  campus  grounds. 

"  You  must  be  very  careful,  Dora,  now  that 
Crabtree  is  at  liberty,"  said  the  eldest  Rover  boy. 
"  I  wouldn't  have  ihim  run  off  with  you  again 
for  the  world,"  he  added,  tenderly. 

"  I  shall  watch  out,  Dick, — and  I'll  make  the 
others  watch  out,  too."  And  then,  as  he  squeezed 
her  hand,  she  added,  in  a  lower  voice :  "  How 
is  that  other  matter  coming  along?" 

"  Not  very  well,  Dora,"  and  Dick's  face  be- 
came more  serious  than  ever. 

"Can't  your  father  manage  it?" 

"  I  don't  think  so.  You  see,  he  isn't  in  very 
good  health — he  breaks  down  every  once  in  a 
while.  Those  business  matters  worry  him  a  great 
deal." 

"Can't  your  uncle  help  him?" 

"  No,  Uncle  Randolph  means  well,  but  he  is 
no  business  man — he  showed  that  when  he  al- 


32         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

lowed  those  men  to  swindle  him  out  of  those 
bonds,"  went  on  Dick,  referring  to  an  event 
which  has  been  related  in  detail  in  "  The  Rover 
-Boys  on  the  Farm." 

"  But  what  can  you  do,  Dick  ? "  questioned 
the  girl,  earnestly. 

"  I  think  I'll  have  to  quit  college  and  take  up 
the  matter  myself,"  answered  Dick  Rover, 


CHAPTER   IV 

THE    END    OF     THE     "  DART  AWAY " 

"  QUIT  college  ?  Oh,  Dick,  do  you  want  to  do- 
that?" 

"  Not  exactly,  Dora — and  yet  I  don't  think  I 
am  exactly  fitted  for  a  professional  career.  That 
seems  to  be  more  in  Tom  and  Sam's  line.  I 
like  business,  and  I'd  enjoy  getting  into  some- 
thing big,  something  worth  while.  I  think  I 
could  handle  those  matters,  if  father  would  only 
let  me  try.  And  then  there  is  another  thing, 
Dora,"  went  on  the  youth,  looking  squarely  into 
his  companion's  face.  "  Perhaps  you  can  guess 
what  that  is." 

She  blushed  deeply. 

"What?"  she  whispered. 

"I  want  to  marry  you,  and  take  you  some 
place  where  I  know  you'll  be  safe  from  -such 
creatures  as  Crabtree  and  Sobber  and  Larkspur 
« — and  I  want  the  right  to  look  after  your 
mother,  too." 

"Oh,  Dick!"  And  she  clung  tightly  to  his 
arm. 

33 


34         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"Aren't  you  willing,  Dora?" 

"Yes."  She  looked  at  him  frankly  '  Yess 
Dick,  whenever  you  say." 

"And  your  mother " 

"Mamma  depends  upon  me  in  everything, 
and  she  has  told  me  to  do  just  as  we  thought 
best." 

Dick  gave  a  swift  look  around.  Nobody  was 
in  sight  at  that  moment.  He  pressed  Dora  to 
him. 

"You  best  and  dearest  sweetheart  in  all  the 
world ! "  he  cried,  in  a  low  tone.  "  Then  I  can 
depend  on  you?  We'll  be  the  happiest  couple  in 
the  whole  world !  " 

"  Indeed,  yes,  Dick ! "  And  Dora's  eyes 
fairly  beamed  with  happiness  as  she  snuggled 
closer  to  him.  "  But  about  your  father,"  she 
continued,  a  moment  later.  "  I  am  selfish  to 
forget  him.  Then  he  is  not  so  well?" 

"  He  is  fairly  well,  but  he  gets  a  bad  spell 
ever  so  often,  and  then  to  attend  to  business  is 
out  of  the  question.  But  that  isn't  the  worst  of 
-it.  He  has  gotten  tangled  up  in  some  sort  of 
financial  scheme  with  some  brokers  in  New 
York  City  and  it  is  worrying  ,him  half  to  death. 
He  has  told  me  something  about  it,  but  I  don't 
know  half  as  much  as  I'd  like  to  know." 

"  Then  you  must  find  out,   Dick,   and   help 


THE   END   OF   THE   "DART AW  AY"        35 

'him   all   you   possibly  can,"  declared   the   girl, 
promptly. 

"  I'm  looking  for  a  letter  from  home  every 
day — I  inean  one  telling  about  these  financial  af- 
fairs.    As  soon  as  it  comes  I'll  know  what  to 
,<do." 

All  too  soon  the  boys'  visit  to  Hope  Seminary 
had  to  come  to  an  end.  Sam  and  Tom  returned, 
to  the  biplane  and  gave  the  motor  a  brief  "  try- 
out,"  which  noise  reached  Dick's  ears  just  as  he 
was  trying  to  break  away  from  Dora.  He  gave 
her  a  last  hug  and  a  kiss  and  then  ran  to  join 
his  brothers. 

"The  best  of  friends  must  part,  as  the  hook 
said  to  the  eye ! "  sang  out  Tom,  merrily. 

"  I  believe  you  are  anxious  to  leave  us ! "  re- 
turned Nellie,  teasingly. 

"  Sure  thing !  "  he  retorted,  promptly.  "  I 
planned  to  get  away  an  hour  before  I  came." 
And  then  she  playfully  boxed  his  ear,  at  which 
he  chased  her  around  the  biplane  and  gave  her 
a  hearty  smack  just  below  her  own  pretty  ear. 

"  Tom  Rover !  "  she  gasped.  But,  somehow, 
she  looked  pleased,  nevertheless. 

"All  in  the  family!"  sang  out  th«  fun-loving 
Rover,  coolly.  "  As  the  lady  said  when  she 
kissed  her  cow." 

"Who  is  going  to  run  the  Dartaway  back?" 


36    THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

questioned  Sam.    "  I  think  it's  my  turn  at  the 
wheel." 

"It's  rather  dark,  Sam,"  answered  Dick. 
"But  you  can  try  it — if  you  want  to." 

"  All  right — I  think  I  can  see  as  much  as  you 
or  Tom,"  responded  the  youngest  Rover.  "If 
I  get  off  the  course,  and  you  find  it  out,  let 
me  know." 

Darkness  was  settling  down  when  the  boys 
finally  bid  the  girls  good-bye  and  flew  away. 

"  Beware  of  old  Crabtree !  "  sang  out  Dick. 

"  We'll  watch  out !  "  answered  Nellie. 

"  Indeed  we  will ! "  came  from  Dora  and 
Grace. 

"  If  you  catch  sight  of  him,  have  him  ar- 
rested ! "  yelled  Sam,  and  then  the  biplane  sailed 
out  of  hearing. 

Sam  knew  how  to  handle  the  Dartaway  al- 
most as  well  as  did  Dick  and  Tom,  and  as  there 
was  but  little  wind,  and  the  flying  machine  ap- 
peared to  be  in  good  condition,  the  others  did 
not  doubt  but  what  Sam  would  make  a  fine  flight 
of  the  trip. 

"  Keep  a  little  to  the  south,"  called  out  Dick,, 
after  Hope  had  been  left  behind  and  when  they 
were  sailing  over  some  broad  fields.  "If  you 
do  that  you  can  follow  the  old  turnpike  for 
quite  a  distance." 


THE   END   OF   THE   "DARTAWAY"         37 

"I  thought  I'd  run  for  the  railroad  tracks," 
answered  the  lad  at  the  steering  wheel. 

"You  can  do  that  later — after  we  pass  that 
hig  farmhouse  with  the  four  barns." 

Running  along  in  the  air  is  a  different  propo- 
sition from  running  on  the  ground,  and  the  air- 
man has  to  be  careful  about  the  lay  of  the  land 
below  him  or  he  will  soon  go  astray  from  his 
course.  The  earth  looks  altogether  different 
when  viewed  from  the  sky  from  what  it  does 
when  looked  at  from  a  level,  and  when  an  air- 
man is  five  or  six  hundred  feet  up  he  has 
all  he  can  do  to  make  out  what  is  below 
him. 

It  had  begun  to  cloud  up  a  little  and  this  made 
it  darker  than  ever.  After  following  the  turn- 
pike for  nearly  two  miles,  Sam  veered  slightly 
to  catch  the  railroad  tracks  and  the  gleam  of  the 
signal  lights. 

"I  can  follow  the  lights  best  of  all!"  he 
shouted,  into  Dick's  ear.  "  It's  too  dark  to  sec 
the  road." 

"  All  right,  follow  the  railroad  right  to  Ash- 
ton,"  answered  the  oldest  Rover  boy,  naming 
the  town  that  was  the  railroad  station  for  Brill 
College. 

The  cloudiness  increased  rapidly,  and  long  be- 
fore Ashton  was  gained  it  commenced  to  blow, 


38    THE  ROVHR  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

gently  at  first,  and  then  stronger  and  stronger 
Evidently  a  storm  y^as  in  the  air. 

"  We  are  going  to  catch  it!  "  was  Tom's  com- 
ment. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  think  it  will  storm  just  yet,"  re- 
turned Sam. 

"Watch  yourself,  Sam!"  cried  Dick,  warn- 
ingly.  "If  the  wind  gets  too  strong  bring  her 
down  in  the  first  field  we  come  to." 

"  I  will,"  was  the  answer. 

They  were  now  flying  close  to  the  railroad 
tracks.  Presently  they  saw  a  glare  of  light  il- 
luminate the  rails  and  a  long  line  of  freight  cars, 
drawn  by  a  big  locomotive,  passed  beneath 
them. 

"  Wish  that  was  going  our  way — we  could 
follow  it  with  ease,"  said  Sam,  as  the  train  dis- 
appeared from  view,  leaving  the  landscape  be- 
low darker  than  ever. 

The  youngest  Raver  boy  now  had  to  give  the 
Dartaway  all  of  his  attention.  The  breeze  was 
coming  in  fitful  gusts,  sending  the  biplane  first 
to  one  side  and  then  to  the  other.  They  struck 
a  "  bank,"  and  he  had  to  use  all  his  wit  and  cour- 
age to  bring  the  flying  machine  to  a  level  keel 
once  more. 

"Better  go  down!"  cried  Tom.  "This  is 
getting  dangerous." 


THE   END    OF    THE   "DART AW  AY"        39 

"  Don't  go  down  -here ! "  sang  out  Dick. 
"  There  are  woods  on  both  sides  of  the 
track!" 

Sam  had  been  working  the  horizontal  rudder, 
to  bring  the  biplane  down,  but  at  Dick's  words 
he  shifted  again  and  they  went  up. 

"I'll  tell  you  when  we  reach  an  open  field," 
went  on  the  oldest  Rover.  "  Say,  this  sure  is 
some  blow ! "  he  added. 

Another  fitful  gust  struck  the  Dartaway  and 
for  one  brief  moment  it  looked  as  if  the  biplane 
would  be  turned  over.  Had  this  occurred  the 
machine  would  have  dropped  like  a  shot  and 
most  likely  all  of  the  boys  would  have  been 
killed. 

But  Sam  was  on  guard,  and  worked  his  levers 
like  lightning.  As  quickly  as  she  had  tipped, 
the  Dartaway  righted  herself,  and  then  they  shot 
upward  on  a  long  slant 

"  Phew !  that  was  some  escape !  "  muttered 
Tom.  "Dick,  can't  you  see  any  open  field 
where  we  can  land  ?  " 

"  Must  be  one  ahead,"  was  the  answer.  "  I 
fancy " 

Dick  did  not  finish,  for  at  that  moment  came 
a  blast  of  air  stronger  than  any  that  had  gone 
before.  The  Dartaivay  spun  around,  left  the 
railroad  tracks,  made  a  semi-circle,  and  then 


40         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

came  back   again.     As   it  made  the  final   turn 
there  was  a  crack  like  that  of  a  pistol. 

"  What  was  that?  "  cried  Tom.  "  Was  it  the 
engine?" 

"  No,  it  was  one  of  the  stays ! "  answered 
Dick.  He  glanced  around.  "  The  right  plane 
is  giving  'way!  Sam,  let  her  down,  as  quick 
as  you  can !  " 

"  On  the  tracks !  "  gasped  the  lad  at  the  wheel. 

"  Yes — anywhere — before  we  tumble !  " 

The  biplane  was  already  out  of  control.  Sam 
manipulated  the  rudders  as  best  he  could,  and 
likewise  the  ailerons,  and  the  machine  dropped  in 
several  wild  dashes, 

"The  train!"  yelled  Tom.  "Look  out  for 
the  express ! " 

There  was  another  gleam  of  light  along  the 
railroad  tracks.  The  evening  express  was  ap- 
proaching, running  at  topmost  speed,  to  make 
up  some  lost  time. 

The  biplane  was  coming  down  swiftly.  It 
veered  towards  the  woods  beside  the  railroad 
tracks.  Then  it  took  another  wild  turn  and 
hung  directly  over  the  railroad.  The  boys  were 
speechless,  not  knowing  what  to  do.  The  light 
of  the  express  train  kept  coming  closer  and 
closer. 

Crash!  the  biplane  had  struck  the  earth,   di- 


THE    END    OF    THE    "DART  AW  AY"         41 

rectly  beside  the  railroad  tracks.  One  end  of 
the  machine  rested  across  the  rails,  the  other  end 
hung  in  the  bushes  bordering  the  tracks. 

As  they  struck  Tom  and  Dick  were  thrown 
put — the  former  into  the  bushes  and  the  latter 
on  the  tracks.  Sam  kept  at  the  wheel,  the  force 
of  the  impact  smashing  the  landing  wheels  be- 
neath him. 

For  the  instant  all  three  boys  were  too  stunned 
to  do  anything.  Then,  as  the  gleam  from  the 
express  train  came  closer,  Tom  let  out  a  wild 
cry. 

"  Jump !  Jump  for  your  lives !  We  haven't  a 
moment  to  lose !  " 

"Dick!"  screamed  Sam.  "Save  Dick!  He 
is  on  the  tracks ! ' 

"Where?" 

"  There ! "  and  Sam  pointed  with  one  hand, 
while  he  clambered  down  from  his  seat.  The 
seat  was  broken  and  his  coat  got  caught  in  the 
splinters,  and  it  was  several  seconds  before  he 
could  release  himself. 

Tom  looked  to  where  his  brother  pointed  and 
saw  Dick  lying  in  a  heap,  face  downward.  The 
fall  had  been  sufficient  to  stun  him  and  he  was 
thus  unable  to  help  himself. 

Tom  did  not  hesitate  over  what  to  do.  Dick 
was  very  dear  to  him  and  never  for  an  instant  did 


42         THE  ROVER   BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

he  consider  the  risk  he  was  running  in  going  to 
the  rescue.  He  made  a  flying  leap  from  the 
bushes  to  the  tracks  and  took  another  leap  to 
his  brother's  side. 

"Get  up,  Dick"  he  yelled.  "Here,  let  me 
get  you  off  the  tracks !  The  train  is  coming !  " 

Only  a  faint  groan  answered  him.  Dick  was 
still  too  dazed  to  think  or  to  act. 

Tom  caught  hold  of  his  brother  and  raised  him 
up,  and  commenced  to  drag  him  to  the  other  side 
of  the  tracks,  away  from  the  wrecked  biplane. 
As  he  did  this  there  came  a  shrill  warning  shriek 
from  the  locomotive  whistle.  The  engineer  had 
seen  the  obstruction  on  the  tracks  and  had  put 
on  brakes,  in  a  vain  endeavor  to  stop  the  ex- 
press. 

As  Tom  commenced  to  haul  Dick  across  the 
tracks,  Sam  came  bounding  to  his  assistance, 
the  shreds  of  his  torn  coat  flapping  behind  him. 
He  caught  his  big  brother  by  one  arm. 

"Hurry!"  he  yelled,  hoarsely.  "The  ex- 
press is  almost  here !  " 

Both  boys  made  a  wild  leap  to  the  edge  of 
the  railroad,  dragging  Dick  between  them. 
Tom  got  his  foot  caught  in  the  rails  and  almost 
pitched  headlong.  They  fairly  fell  into  the 
bushes,  and  Dick  went  down  with  them. 

Then  the  express  thundered  up,   the   whistle 


" HURRY  1"     HE  YELLED   HOARSELY.     "THE   EXPRESS   JS  ALMOST 

HERE4" — Page  42. 
Tkt  Raver  Boyt  in  A  Vw  York. 


THE    END    OF    THE   "  DART  AW  AY" 


43 


shrieking  loudly  and  the  sparks  flying  from  the 
wheels  where  the  brakes  gripped  them.  The 
locomotive  struck  the  Dartaway,  and  the  next 
instant  the  biplane  was  smashed  to  pieces,  the 
broken  parts  flying  in  all  directions ! 


CHAPTER  V. 

TWO    VISITORS 

"THAT'S  the  last  of  the  Dartaway!" 

"Are  you  hurt,  Dick?  " 

"  My,  wasn't  that  a  narrow  escape ! " 

"A  minute  later  and  it  would  have  been  all 
up  with  us ! " 

"  I — I  guess  I'm  all  right,"  stammered  Dick, 
putting  one  hand  to  his  forehead,  where  a  lump 
was  rapidly  rising.  "  I  got  some  fall  though !  " 
he  added,  grimly. 

"  Look  what  hit  me ! "  cried  Sam,  picking  up  a 
section  of  a  bamboo  stick — one  which  had  sup- 
ported one  of  the  planes  of  the  flying  machine. 

"  I'm  glad  we  weren't  closer  to  that  smash- 
up!" 

Having  plowed  through  the  biplane,  the  ex- 
press train  had  come  to  a  halt  with  the  last  car 
standing  not  a  great  distance  beyond  the  scene 
of  the  collision.  Already  the  trainmen  were 
\  hurrying  out,  some  with  lanterns,  to  learn  if 
anybody  had  been  killed  or  hurt. 

"  Why,  it's  an  airship ! "  cried  the  conductor. 
"  How  in  the  name  of  Adam  did  that  get  here? '" 
44 


TWO    VISITORS  45. 

"Here  are  three  fellows!"  cried  the  en- 
gineer, as  the  rays  of  a  lantern  revealed  the 
Rover  boys.  "  Were  you  in  that  flying  ma- 
chine ?  "  he  called. 

"  We  were,"  answered  Tom,  grimly. 

"Anybody  hurt?" 

"  My  brother  got  a  bad  tumble  and  is  partly 
stunned." 

"  We  didn't  hit  anybody,  did  we?  "  questioned 
the  engineer,  anxiously. 

"  Nothing  but  the  biplane,"  answered  Sam. 
"  You  made  mince-meat  of  that" 

"  How  did  you  happen  to  land  on  the  track?  " 
asked  the  fireman. 

"  The  wind  put  the  machine  out  of  control  and 
we  came  down  quicker  than  we  wanted  to,"  ex- 
plained Sam.  "  Then  you  came  along — before 
we  had  a  chance  to  drag  the  biplane  off  the- 
tracks." 

"  Well,  I'm  glad  I  didn't  hit  anybody,"  said 
the  engineer,  in  tones  of  relief. 

"  We  had  a  close  shave,"  returned  Tom,  and 
then  he  and  Sam  told  of  how  they  had  struck, 
and  of  how  Dick  had  been  dragged  out  of  the 
way.  By  this  time  the  oldest  Rover  boy  was 
feeling  more  like  himself  and  he  managed  to 
stand  up,  even  though  somewhat  dizzy 

"  Well,  we're  I  ?sing  time,"  said  the  conductor,. 


46         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

consulting  his  watch  by  the  light  of  his  lantern. 
"  We'll  have  to  get  into  Ashton  and  report  this." 

"And  somebody  has  got  to  pay  for  the  bi« 
-plane,"  said  Tom. 

"  I  don't  see  as  it  is  our  fault,"  answered  the 
ttrainman,  and  then  he  gave  the  order  to  go 
ahead — after  it  had  been  ascertained  that  the 
track  was  clear. 

"  We'll  ride  to  Ashton  with  you,"  said  Dick. 
"  No  use  of  staying  with  this  wreckage,"  he 
added,  to  his  brothers.  "  We  can  drive  down  to- 
morrow and  look  it  over.  I  don't  think  it  is 
worth  much." 

"  Never  mind — I  am  glad  nobody  was  seri- 
ously hurt,"  returned  Sam. 

"  I  guess  we  all  feel  that  way,"  added  Tom. 

It  was  a  run  of  only  a  few  minutes  to  Ash- 
ton. On  the  way  the  conductor  of  the  train 
took  the  Rover  boys'  names  and  address. 

"  I  don't  see  how  you  can  blame  us  for  smash- 
ing the  flying  machine,"  he  said.  "  You  had  no 
business  to  come  down  on  the  track." 

"We  might  have  gotten  our  biplane  off  the 
track,  if  you  had  halted  the  train,"  returned 
Dick.  "We  could  have  dragged  it  into  the 
bushes." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that." 

As  soon  as  the  train  rolled  into  Ashton  the 


TWO    VISITORS 


47 


boys  alighted.     The  only  other  passenger  to  get 
off  was  one  of  the  local  storekeepers. 

"You  were  lucky  boys,"  said  the  man,  pleas- 
antly. He  knew  them  by  sight,  far  they  had 
traded  at  his  shop. 

"  That's  true,  Mr.  Striker,"  said  DicE  "  But 
iwe  don't  seem  to  be  lucky  just  now." 

"How's  that?" 

"  There  isn't  a  conveyance  of  any  kind  here 
to  take  us  to  Brill,  and  I  must  say  I  don't  feel 
like  walking." 

"You  go  around  to  Carson's  livery  stable. 
He'll  take  you  over  to  the  college,"  answered  Mr. 
Striker. 

The  liyery  stable  was  but  a  short  distance  away 
and  they  found  the  proprietor  on  hand,  reading 
a  newspaper  and  smoking  bis  pipe. 

"  It's  a  wonder  you  wouldn't  have  a  rig  over 
at  the  depot,  to  meet  the  main  trains,"  grumbled 
Tom. 

"  'Twouldn't  pay,"  answered  Neal  Carson.  "I 
tried  it  once,  and  earned  two  dollars  and  a  half  in 
two  weeks.  Folks  that  want  me  can  come  here 
for  me." 

"Well,  we  want  to  get  to  Brill  College,"  said\' 
Dick. 

"All  right,  but  it  will  cost  you  fifty  eenta 
each." 


48    THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"Very  well." 

The  livery  stable  keeper  hustled  around  and 
soon  had  a  team  ready.  The  boys  were  glad 
enough  to  take  it  easy  in  the  carriage,  and  on 
the  way  to  college  but  little  was  said. 

"Rather  late,  young  gentlemen,"  remarked 
Professor  Blackie,  sharply,  as  they  entered. 

"  We  had  an  accident,  Professor,"  returned 
Dick. 

"An  accident?"  and  the  instructor  was  all 
attention. 

"  Our  biplane  got  smashed  up,"  put  in  Tom. 

"  Indeed !  I  am  sorry  to  hear  that.  Are  you 
hurt?" 

"  Got  a  shaking  up  and  a  few  scratches,"  an- 
swered Sam. 

Then  their  story  had  to  be  told  in  detail. 
Soon  it  became  noised  all  over  the  place  that 
the  Dartaway  had  been  wrecked,  and  before  they 
could  get  a  mouthful  to  eat  the  three  Rovers 
had  to  tell  the  story  over  and  over  again. 

"  I'm  sorry  the  biplane  was  wrecked,  but  glad 
you  escaped,"  feaid  Songbird,  earnestly.  He 
cherished  his  old  friends  as  if  they  were  broth« 
.ers. 

"Just  what  I  say  already,"  cried  Max 
Spangler,  a  German- American  student  "  You 
can  buy  a  new  flying  machine,  yes,  but  you  can't 


TWO    VISITORS 


49 


buy  a  new  Head  or  a  body,  not  much ! "  'And  he 
shook  his  head  earnestly. 

Even  while  the  lads  were  eating  they  had  to 
give  further  details  of  the  disastrous  flight. 
Doctor  Wellington  congratulated  them  on  their 
escape. 

"  You  had  better  leave  flying  alone  after  this,"1 
he  remarked. 

"  I  think  we  shall — for  a  while,  at  least,"  an- 
swered Tom,  dryly. 

As  soon  as  it  was  possible  to  do  so,  the  boys 
sent  a  message  to  the  girls  and  to  their  folks, 
telling  about  the  accident  and  of  their  escape. 

"  It's  bound  to  get  in  the  newspapers,"  said 
Dick.  "  And  if  we  don't  send  word  the  others 
wiM  be  scared  to  death." 

The  oldest  Rover  boy  was  right  about  the  af- 
fair getting  in  the  newspapers.  The  local  sheets 
gave  the  accident  a  column  or  more  and  some  city 
sheets  took  it  up  and  made  a  "  spread "  of  it,. 
with  pictures  that  were  truly  thrilling  even 
though  they  were  inaccurate. 

"  Humph !  look  at  this  picture !  "  cried  Sam, 
showing  up  the  supplement  to  a  New  York  Sun- 
day newspaper.  "  Looks  as  if  we  hit  the  smoke- 
stack of  the  locomotive  and  sailed  along  on  that 
for  a  mile  or  two !  Phew !  what  an  imagination 
that  artist  must  have !  " 


50         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"And  here  is  a  picture  showing  the  train 
climbing  over  the  biplane!"  returned  Tom. 
"  Say,  it's  a  wonder  we  didn't  wreck  the  Ex- 
;  press  instead  of  the  Express  wrecking  us ! " 

On  the  day  following  the  accident  the  boys 
were  told,  after  class  hours,  that  some  gentlemen 
wished  to  see  them.  They  went  to  the  reception 
room,  to  find  two  men  there — a  lawyer  and  a 
doctor. 

"  You  are  the — er — the  young  gemtlemen  who 
were  in  the — er — the  flying  machine  smash-up  ?  " 
^queried  one  of  the  visitors,  sharply. 

"Yes,"  answered  Dick. 

"Mr.   Rover?" 

"  Yes,  Richard  Rover." 

"Just  so.  Glad  to  know  you.  My  name  is 
Fogg — Belright  Fogg.  This  is  Doctor  Slamper. 
We  represent  the  railroad  company,  Mr.  Rover. 
The  doctor  came  along  to  see  if  you  had  been 
<hurt" 

"I  got  this,"  answered  Dick,  with  a  quiet 
smile,  and  pointed  to  the  lump  on  his  forehead. 

"Ah,  yes,  I  see,"  put  in  Doctor  Slamper. 
"  Not  very  serious,  I  take  it." 

"Oh,  it  didn't  kill  me." 

"Ha!  ha!  Good  joke,  Mr.  Raver!  Feel 
jpratty  good  otherwise,  eh  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I'm  able  to  sit  up." 


TWO    VISITORS  5I 

"And  these  other  young  gentlemen  are  all 
right,  of  course,"  went  on  the  doctor,  smoothly. 

His  manner  was  such  that  the  boys  were  dis- 
gusted. Evidently  he  had  come  to  smooth  mat- 
ters over,  so  that  they  would  not  put  in  a  claim 
for  personal  injuries.  And  the  lawyer  had  come 
to  ward  off  a  claim  for  the  loss  of  the  Dart- 
away. 

"  No,  I'm  not  all  right,  Doctor — far  from  it," 
cried  Tom,  before  the  others  could  say  another 
y/ord.  And  then  the  fun-loving  Rover  went  on : 
"  My  knee  is  sprained,  and  my  back  twisted,  and 
J  have  a  pain  in  one  of  my  right  teeth,  and  my 
brothers  both  got  their  arms  wrenched,  and  one 
got  his  left  big  toe  out  of  joint,  and  none  of  us 
can  see  extra  good,  and  I  think  my  big  brother's 
right  ear  is  out  of  order,  and  my  digestion  is 
not  what  it  should  be,  and  I  fear " 

"  Stop !  stop ! "  interrupted  the  doctor,  in 
(amazement.  "  Do  you  mean  to  say— — " 

"  And  the  back  of  my  neck  feels  out  of  kilter 
somehow,"  continued  Tom,  "  and  Sam's  left  hip 
isn't  just  as  straight  as  it  should  be,  and  when 
I  hit  my  elbow  I  have  the  funniest  sensation 
crawl  down  my  shoulder  blade  ever  was,  and  we 
all  think  we  ought  to  go  to  a  sanitarium  for  at 
least  six  months  or  a  year;  don't  you  think  so, 
too,  Doctor?  " 


52          THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"  Well,  I  never ! "  gasped  Doctor  Slamper, 
falling  back  against  a  center  table.  "  Why,  my 
dear  young  men,  I  think " 

"  And  the  Dartaway  is  gone — our  dear  old  fly- 
ing machine !  "  groaned  Tom.  "  The  machine 
we  hoped  to  fly  in  to  Washington,  to  the  next 
inauguration.  Why%  don't  you  know  that  the 
planes  of  that  machine  were  covered  with  the  au- 
tographs of  most  of  the  big  men  of  this  country? 
Whenever  we  sailed  around  to  visit  our  friends 
or  the  big  men  we  had  them  write  their  auto- 
graphs on  the  canvas  wings  of  the  machine. 
Those  autographs  alone  were  worth  about  a  mil- 
lion, more  or  less !  " 

"What's  this?"  put  in  Belright  Fogg, 
quickly.  "  A  flying  machine  valuable  because  of 
the  autographs  on  it?  Preposterous!  If  you 
think  the  railroad  will  stand  to  pay  anything  on 
such  a  thing  as  that,  you  are  mistaken." 

"  But  how  are  we  to  get  those  autographs 
back?"  whined  Tom.  "Some  of  the  men  who 
gave  them  may  be  dead  now ! " 

"  See  here,  let  us  get  down  to  business,"  cried . 
Belright  Fogg.     "  You  don't  look  to  be  knocked 
out — at  least,  not  a  great  deal  anyway.     Am  I 
right,  Doctor?" 

"  I — I  think  so.  Of  course  they  may  be — be 
shocked  a  little,"  returned  the  physician. 


TWO    VISITORS 


53 


"  Probably  they  are — from  the  way  this  young 
man  talks — little  nervous  disorder/'  Aad  he 
pointed  at  Tom,  while  Dick  and  Sam  had  to 
turn  away,  to  keep  from  bursting  into  laugh- 
ter. 

"Urn!  Nervous,  eh?  Well,  a  few  days  of 
quietness  will  remedy  that,"  answered  the  law- 
yer. "  Now,  see  here."  He  looked  wisely  at 
the  three  Rovers.  "Our  railroad  disclaims  all 
responsibility  for  this  accident.  But  at  the  same 
time  we — er — we  want  to  do  the  right  thing, 
you  know — rather  do  that  than  have  any  un- 
pleasant feelings,  understand?  Now  if  you  are 
willing  to  accept  our  offer,  we'll  fix  this  matter 
right  up  and  say  no  more  about  it." 

"What  is  you  offer?"  questioned  Dick. 

"Three  hundred  dollars — one  hundred  dollars 
each." 

"You  mean  for  our  personal  injuries?"  ques- 
tioned Sam. 

"  I  mean  for  everything." 

"Nothing  doing,"  returned  Dick,  promptly, 
and  with  a  bit  of  pardonable  slang. 

"You  will  not  accept?" 

"We  might  accept  three  hundred  dollars  for 
the  shaking  up  we  got — although  we  don't  know 
if  our  nerves  are  all  right  or  not  Sometimes 
these  things  turn  out  worse  than  at  first  antici- 


54         THE   ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

pated.  But  the  railroad  has  got  to  pay  for  the 
biplane  it  smashed." 

"Never!" 

"I  think  it  will." 

"You  got  in  the  way  of  the  train — i±  was 
your  own  fault." 

"  Your  track  isn't  fenced  in — I  have  a  right 
to  cross  it  where  I  please.  If  I  had  a  wagon 
and  it  broke  down,  you  would  have  no  right  to 
run  into  it.  The  law  might  not  hold  you  crim- 
inally liable,  but  it  would  hold  you  liable  for  the 
worth  of  the  wagon  and  contents. 

"Say,  are  you  a  lawyer?"  queried  Belright 
Fogg,  curiously. 

"  No,  but  I  know  my  rights,"  returned  Dick, 
promptly. 


CHAPTER  VI 


FOR  a  moment  there  was  silence  1>r  law- 
yer and  the  doctor  who  represented  rh«  railroad 
company  looked  from  one  to  another  of  the 
Rover  boys. 

"Pretty  shrewd,  aren't  you?"  said  the  law- 
yer, finally. 

"  We  have  to  be — in  dealing  with  a  railroad 
company,"  answered  Dick,  bluntly.  "  Now  let 
us  g£t  to  business — if  that  is  what  you  came  for," 
he  continued.  "  We  might  put  in  a  big  claim  for 
damages,  and  I  think  a  jury  would  sustain  our 
claim.  But  we  want  to  do  what  is  fair.  The 
question  then  is,  Do  you  want  to  do  what  is 
fair?" 

"  Why,  yes,  of  course,"  returned  Belright 
Fogg,  but  he  did  not  say  it  very  cordially. 

"  Very  well  then.  That  flying  machine  cost 
us  twenty-eight  hundred  dollars  new  and  we 
have  spent  over  two  hundred  dollars  on  improve- 
ments, so  when  she  was  smashed  she  was  worth 
at  least  three  thousand  dollars." 

55 


56          THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"But  you  can  save  something,  can't  you?" 
put  in  the  lawyer. 

"  Perhaps  we  can  save  the  engine,  and  a 
dealer  in  second-hand  machinery  may  give 
a  hundred  dollars  for  it.  Now  what  I  propose 
is  this:  You  pay  for  half  the  value  of  the  bi- 
plane and  we'll  call  it  square." 

"  Preposterous ! " 

"  Very  well  then,  Mr.  Fogg,  we'll  consider 
the  interview  closed." 

"  If  you  sue,  you  won't  get  a  cent,  Mr.  Rover." 

"That  remains  to  be  seen." 

"I  am  willing  to  give  you  five  hundred  dol- 
lars in  place  of  the  three  hundred  first  offered." 

"No,  sir — it  is  fifteen  hundred  or  nothing, 
Mr.  Fogg." 

"  But  you  have  not  been  hurt" 

"  Yes,  we  have  been  hurt  I  have  been  to  our 
college  doctor  about  this  lump  on  my  head,  and 
my  brothers  have  been  to  him,  too.  We  were 
badly  shaken  up — not  as  much  as  my  brother 
made  out,  but  enough.  If  we  have  to  sue  we'll 
put  in  our  claim  for  personal  injuries  as  well — 
and  maybe  for  time  lost  from  our  studies." 

"  But  fifteen  hundred  dollars !  I — er — I  can't 
see  it,"  and  the  lawyer  began  to  pace  the  floor. 

"  Maybe  we  had  better  sue,"  suggested  Sam. 
"  We  might  get  the  full  amount  of  our  loss — - 


THE    MISSING    BIPLANE  $? 

three  thousand  for  the  Dartaway  and  some  for 
our  injuries." 

This  did  not  suit  the  lawyer  at  all,  for  he  had 
been  instructed  to  settle  if  possible  and  thus 
avoid  litigation,  for  the  railroad  authorities  had 
heard  that  the  Rovers  were  rich  and  might  make 
the  affair  cost  a  good  deal. 

"I  will — er — make  my  offer  an  even  thou- 
sand dollars,"  he  said,  after  some  more  talk. 
"  But  that  is  my  limit.  If  you  won't  take  that, 
you'll  get  nothing." 

"All  right — we'll  sue,"  said  Dick,  and  he 
made  a  move  as  if  to  dose  the  interview. 

"  See  here,  are  you  of  age — have  you  authority 
to  close  this  matter?"  demanded  Belright  Fogg, 
suddenly. 

"  I  can  close  the  matter,  yes,"  answered  Dick. 
"  My  father  will  be  perfectly  satisfied  with  what- 
ever I  do.  I  transact  much  of  his  business  for 
him." 

"Ah,  well  then,  let  us  consider  this  thing  a 
little  more,  (Mr.  Rover."  And  thereupon  the 
lawyer  went  all  over  the  matter  again.  Pres- 
ently he  offered  twelve  hundred  dollars.  But 
Dick  was  firm;  and  in  the  end  the  lawyer  said 
he  would  pay  them  fifteen  hundred  dollars  the 
next  day,  provided  they  would  sign  off  all 
claims  on  the  railroad. 


58         THE  ROVER   BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"  We'll  do  it  as  soon  as  we  see  the  money/' 
answered  Dick. 

"  Can't  you  trust  me,  Mr.  Rover?"  demanded 
Belright  Fogg. 

"  I  like  to  do  business  in  a  business-like  way," 
answered  Dick,  coolly.  "When  you  bring  that 
check  kindly  have  it  certified,"  he  added. 

"Very  well!"  snapped  the  lawyer;  and  then 
he  and  the  doctor  got  out,  Belright  Fogg  stating 
he  would  return  the  next  morning. 

"  Dick,  you  ought  to  be  a  lawyer  yourself !  " 
cried  Tom.  "  You  managed  that  in  fine  style." 

"Tom  helped,"  added  Sam.  "He  nearly 
scared  that  doctor  into  a  fit,  talking  about  our 
aches  and  pains !  " 

"  Wait — perhaps  the  lawyer  won't  come  back 
with  the  money,"  said  Dick.  "  He  may  recon- 
sider the  offer." 

"You  didn't  say  anything  about  the  wreck- 
age," said  Sam.  "  Who  gets  that?  " 

"  We  do.  Sam.  They  are  to  pay  us  for  dam- 
ages, don't  you  see?  If  they  pay  only  that,  the} 
can't  claim  the  wreckage." 

Promptly  at  the  appointed  time  the  next  day 
Belright  Fogg  appeared.  He  was  a  bit  nervous, 
for  the  railroad  officials  had  told  him  to  settle 
at  once — before  the  Rovers  took  it  into  their 
heads  to  bring  suit. 


THE   MISSING   BIPLANE  $g 

"  I  have  the  check,  certified,"  he  said,  produc- 
ing the  paper.  "Here  is  what  you  must  sign, 
in  the  presence  of  witnesses,"  he  added,  and 
brought  out  a  legal-looking  document. 

"We'll  call  in  two  of  the  teachers,"  answered 
Dick. 

The  oldest  Rover  boy  read  the  document  over 
with  care.  It  was  all  right,  excepting  that  in  it 
the  railroad  claimed  the  wreckage  of  the  Dart- 
away  absolutely. 

!l  Here,  this  conies  out,"  cried  Dick.  "  The 
wreckage  belongs  to  us." 

At  this  there  was  another  long  discussion. 
But  the  Rovers  remained  firm,  and  in  the  end 
the  clause  concerning  the  wreckage  was  altered 
to  show  that  the  Dartaway  must  remain  the  boys' 
property.  Then  the  three  brothers  signed  the 
paper  and  it  was  duly  witnessed  by  two  teachers, 
and  the  certified  check  was  handed  to  Dick. 

"  Very  sharp  young  man,  you  are,"  was  Bel- 
right  Fogg's  comment,  as  he  was  about  to  leave. 
"  You  ought  to  be  a  lawyer." 

"  Perhaps  I  will  be  some  day,"  was  Dick's  an- 
swer. 

"  Better  get  that  check  right  in  the  bank ! " 
cried  Sam,  when  he  and  his  brothers  were  alone. 
"  That  fellow  may  stop  payment  on  it." 

"  He  can't  stop  a  certified  check,  Sam.    I'll  put 


<5o         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

it  in  the  school  safe  for  the  present.  What  we 
-want  to  do  is  to  look  after  the  Dartaway.  She 
tnay  not  be  worth  much,  but  what  there  is  of 
her  belongs  to  us." 

"  Right  you  are.  Let  us  get  permission  to  go 
after  her  right  away.  For  all  we  know,  some- 
body may  have  carted  her  off  already ! " 

The  boys  readily  obtained  permission  to  see 
to  their  property,  and  walked  down  to  the  col- 
lege stables  to  get  a  horse  and  carriage  to  take 
them  to  the  spot  where  the  accident  had  occurred. 
Just  then  came  a  toot  of  an  automobile  horn,  and 
a  fine  five-passenger  car  rolled  into  view,  with 
Stanley  Browne  and  a  stranger  on  the  front 
seats. 

"  Hello,  you  fellows ! "  cried  Stanley,  as  the 
auto  came  to  a  stop.  "  Come  over  here !  I 
hoped  I'd  see  you !  " 

The  Rovers  hurried  across  the  campus  and 
were  introduced  to  Jack  Mason,  Stanley's 
cousin,  the  driver  of  the  car.  He  was  passing 
through  Ashton  on  the  way  to  join  his  folks  in 
the  White  Mountains. 

"  Jack  wants  me  to  take  a  ride  with  him  this 
afternoon,"  said  Stanley.  "And  I  can  invite 
three  others  to  go  along.  Will  you  come  with 
us?" 

"  That    is    kind,"    answered    Dick.       "  But 


6i 

we  have  some  business  to  attend  to,"  and  he  re- 
lated what  it  was. 

"  Say,  let's  take  a  look  at  the  wrecked  bi- 
plane!" cried  Jack  Mason.  "  I'd  just  as  soon 
go  there  as  anywhere." 

"  So  would  I,"  added  Stanley. 

"  Very  well — that  will  suit  us  down  to  the 
ground !  "  cried  Tom. 

"  We  were  going  to  drive  over  in  a  carriage," 
explained  Dick.  "  We  can  get  there  much 
quicker  in  the  auto." 

The  boys  piled  into  the  tonneau  of  the  car 
and  they  started  off. 

"  Got  to  show  me  the  roads,"  said  Jack 
Mason.  "All  I  know  around  here  is  the  regu- 
lar auto  road  to  the  White  Mountains, — and  I 
don't  know  that  any  too  well." 

"  You  can't  lose  us  on  the  roads !  "  cried  Tom. 
"  We'll  keep  you  straight." 

Jack  Mason  loved  to  run  fast  and  soon  they 
were  bowling  along  at  a  forty-mile-an-hour 
rate.  Stanley  and  Tom  told  the  driver  what 
turns  to  make,  and  almost  before  they  knew  it 
they  had  passed  the  outskirts  of  Ashton  and 
were  approaching  the  locality  where  the  fast 
Express  had  dashed  into  the  crippled  bi- 
plane. 

"  Here  we  are !  "  cried  Tom,  presently.     "  We 


62    THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

can't  go  any  further  on  the  road.  We'll  have  to 
•walk  through  the  woods  to  the  tracks." 

"  I  see  a  wood  road ! "  exclaimed  Jack  Mason. 
"  If  the  ground  isn't  too  soft  I'll  try  that." 

He  went  on  and  passed  in  between  the  trees, 
and  soon  they  were  within  a  hundred  feet  of  the 
railroad  tracks.  As  the  car  came  to  a  stop  the 
Rover  boys  jumped  to  the  ground  and  ran  for- 
ward. Then,  of  a  sudden,  all  three  set  up  a 
shout  : 

"  The  biplane  is  gone !  " 

"  Gone  ?  "  queried  Stanley,  who  was  close  be- 
hind them. 

"  Yes,  gone,"  returned  Tom. 

"Are  you  sure  this  is  the  spot  where  it  was 
struck?" 

"  Of  course  I  am." 

"There  are  the  marks  where  we  landed  and 
where  the  locomotive  'hit  the  Dartaway,"  said 
Sam.  He  looked  around.  "  Wonder  who  took 
her,  and  to  where?" 

"  That's  to  be  found  out,"  (answered  Dick, 
seriously. 

"I  don't  see  any  airship,"  said  Jack  Mason, 
as  he  came  up,  having  shut  off  the  engine  of  the 
touring  car. 

"  Somebody  has  hauled  it  away,"  answered 
Dick.  He  looked  on  both  sides  of  the  track. 


THE   MISSING   BIPLANE  63 

"  This  is  queer,"  he  added,  presently.  "  I  can't 
see  any  marks  in  the  sand  or  mud  or  bushes. 
She'd  make  marks  if  anybody  hauled  her." 

"  I've  got  it !  "  cried  Tom.  "  They  hoisted  her 
on  a  flat  car!  The  railroad  people  have  taken 
her!" 

"  But  she  is  our  biplane ! "  cried  Sam,  stub- 
bornly. 

"Maybe  they  took  her  to  the  freight  house  in 
Ashton,"  suggested  Stanley. 

"  We'll  soon  find  out — if  you'll  take  us  there 
in  the  auto." 

"  Sure ! "  answered  Jack  Mason,  promptly. 

The  boys  were  about  to  leave  the  neighbor- 
hood when  they  heard  the  strokes  of  an  axe, 
ringing  through  the  woods. 

"  There's  a  wood  chopper ! "  cried  Dick. 
"Maybe  he  knows  something  about  this.  I 
guess  I'll  ask  him." 

They  soon  located  the  man — an  elderly  in- 
dividual who  worked  for  the  farmer  who  owned 
the  woods. 

"  Yes,  I  see  'em  hoist  the  airship  on  the  flat 
car,"  said  he,  in  answer  to  their  questions.  "  Had 
quite  a  job  o'  it,  too." 

"  Did  they  take  it  to  Ashton  ?  "  queried  Dick. 

•*  No.  They  was  goin'  to  fust,  but  then  Jimmy 
Budley — the  section  boss — said  it  would  be  bet- 


64    THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

**T 

ter  to  take  it  up  to  the  freight  yards  at  Rails- 
ton." 

"And  they  took  it  there?  " 

"  I  'spect  they  did.  They  went  off  that  way, 
anyway,"  replied  the  old  wood  chopper. 

"  To  the  Rallston  freight  yards !  "  cried  Sam. 
"What  a  nerve!" 

"  I'll  make  'em  bring  it  back !  "  cried  Dick, 
firmly. 

"How  far  is  it  to  Rallston?"  asked  Jack 
Mason. 

"About  nine  miles." 

"  Pooh !  that's  nothing.  Jump  in  and  I'll 
take  you  there  in  no  time — if  the  road's  any 
good." 

"The  road  is  O.  K.,"  answered  Dick. 

The  automobile  was  backed  out  of  the  woods, 
and  turned  in  the  direction  of  Rallston.  Jack 
Mason  was  in  his  element,  and  in  iess  than 
twenty  minutes  they  came  in  sight  of  the  town 
and  turned  into  a  side  street  leading  to  the 
freight  yards. 

"  There  she  is ! "  cried  Sam,  a  minute  later. 

He  pointed  to  one  of  the  tracks  in  the  yards 
and  there,  on  a  flat  car,  the  boys  beheld  the 
wreck  of  the  biplane.  A  small  crowd  of  curious 
men  and  boys  surrounded  the  remains  of  the 
Dartaway. 


THE   MISSING   BIPLANE  65 

"  What  yer  going  to  do  with  her,  Jimmy  ?  " 
asked  a  man  in  the  crowd,  of  a  burly  individual 
on  the  flat  car. 

"I  guess  the  railroad  is  going  to  sell  her/* 
replied  the  section  boss. 


"DiD  you  hear  what  that  man  said?"  de- 
manded Sam  in  a  whisper,  of  his  brothers. 

"  I  did,"  returned  Dick. 

"But  he  isn't  going  to  sell  our  property," 
added  Tom,  warmly. 

"Hardly,"  responded  Dick. 

He  pushed  his  way  through  the  crowd  and 
(walked  straight  up  to  the  flat  car. 

"  Who  is  in  charge  here  ?  "  he  demanded. 

"What's  that?"  came  in  some  surprise  from 
the  section  boss. 

"  I  asked  who  was  in  charge  of  this  flat  car 
(with  this  flying  machine?" 

"  What  business  is  that  of  yours,  young  fel- 
low?" 

"This  is  our  biplane — it  belongs  to  me  and 
my  brothers  here,"  and  Dick  waved  .his  hand  at 
Tom  and  Sam. 

"  Oh !    Are  you  the  Rover  brothers  ?  " 

"  Yes.  And  I  want  to  know  what  business  you 
66 


THE   SALE   OF    THE   BIPLANE  67 

had  to  bring  that  flying  machine  here  ?  "  went  on 
Dick  sharply,  for  he  saw  the  kind  of  a  man  with 
whom  he  had  to  deal. 

"  Say,  look  here,  if  you've  got  any  kick  com- 
ing you  go  to  the  office  with  it,"  cried  Jimmy 
Budley. 

"  Very  well,  I  will.  But  I  want  to  know  wJio 
ordered  you  to  bring  that  biplane  here." 

"  Never  mind ;  you  go  to  the  office  and  find 
out" 

"You  brought  it  here,  didn't  you?"  asked 
Tom,  who  had  now  come  up  to  Dick's  side, 
along  with  the  others. 

"  I  ain't  answering  questions  when  I  don't 
have  to,"  returned  the  section  boss,  with  a  sneer. 

"  Sure  he  brought  it  here — on  this  flat  car !  " 
cried  a  man  in  the  crowd.  "  Why  don't  you  an- 
swer the  young  fellow  straight,  Jimmy?" 

"This  biplane  belongs  to  my  brothers  and 
me,"  went  on  Dick,  as  sharply  as  before.  "  You 
had  absolutely  no  right  to  touch  it.  If  I  wished 
to  do  so,  I  could  have  you  arrested  for  this,"  he 
continued. 

"  Say,  I  don't  allow  nobody  to  talk  to  me  like 
that !  "  growled  the  section  boss.  "  You  git  out 
of  here  and  see  the  men  at  the  office." 

"  We'll  not  get  out !"  put  in  Tom.  "  This  fly- 
ing machine  is  ours  and  we  want  it." 


-68    THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  You'll  take  it  right  back  to  where  you  found 
it,"  added  Sam.  "  And  be  careful  that  you  don't 
break  it  worse  than  it  is,  or  you'll  foot  the  bill." 

"  I  won't  listen  to  you !  "  stormed  the  section 
boss,  who  was  of  an  ugly  disposition  naturally 
and  not  liked  in  the  neighborhood. 

"  Very  well  then,"  answered  Dick.  He  turned 
to  Stanley.  "  WH1  you  go  out  and  see  if  you  can 
find  a  policeman  ? "  he  asked,  loudly. 

"  Sure,"  returned  the  college  youth,  readily. 

"  Wow !  he's  goin'  to  have  Budley  locked  up !  " 
exclaimed  a  small  boy. 

"  See  here,  don't  you  get  fresh ! "  stormed  the 
section  boss,  eying  Dick  angrily. 

"We'll  have  a  policeman  settle  this,"  an- 
swered the  oldest  Rover  boy.  "This  is  our 
property,  and  we  can  easily  prove  it.  You  had 
no  right  to  touch  it." 

"  I  had  orders,"  said  Jimmy  Budley,  doggedly. 

"  Why  don't  you  telephone  to  the  office, 
Jimmy?"  suggested  a  friend.  "Maybe  there 
was  some  mistake." 

"Wasn't  no  mistake,"  growled  the  section 
boss;  nevertheless  he  hopped  down  from  the  flat 
car  and  hurried  in  the  direction  of  a  shanty 
wherein  was  located  a  telephone.  Dick  followed 
him. 

"You  can  tell  them  what  I  said,"  said  the 


THE    SALE    OF    THE    BIPLANE  69 

youth.  "And  they  may  find  it  to  their  interest 
to  call  up  Mr.  Belright  Fogg  before  they  give 
you  orders." 

"  Have  you  seen  Fogg  ?  "  demanded  the  sec- 
tion boss. 

"  Yes." 

"Did  he  say  you  could  take  the  machine?" 

"He  said  nothing  about  our  taking  it.  He 
settled  for  what  damage  the  railroad  did  to  the 
biplane.  We  went  to  get  our  property  and  found 
it  gone.  Nobody  had  a  right  to  touch  it,  ex- 
cepting to  take  it  from  the  tracks." 

"  Huh ! "  grumbled  the  section  boss,  and  shot 
into  the  shanty,  banging  the  door  behind  him. 
Dick  heard  him  shout  something  into  the  tele- 
phone, and  quite  a  lengthy  conversation  ensued- 

In  the  meanwhile  Stanley  had  gone  off  for  a 
policeman  and  presently  came  back  with  a  blue- 
coat  who  did  duty  in  the  streets  beyond  the  rail- 
road yards. 

"Well,  what  have  you  got  to  say  about  it?" 
demanded  Dick,  when  the  section  boss  came  from 
the  shanty  and  white  Stan-ley  and  the  policeman 
;were  approaching.  "  Do  we  get  our  property 
Or  not?" 

"  It's  yours,"  returned  the  railroad  man,  and 
his  voice  was  much  milder  than  before.  "They 
had  no  right  to  give  me  the  orders  they  did." 


70         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  What  about  taking  it  back  ?  "  went  on  Dick. 

"  I've  got  orders  to  take  it  to  any  place  where 
you  want  it,"  answered  the  section  boss,  and  he 
looked  anything  but  happy  as  he  made  the  con- 
fession. 

"  Then  you  can  run  it  down  to  Ashton,"  an- 
swered Dick.  "  Will  you  do  it  right  away  ?  " 

"  I  guess  so — I'll  see,"  was  the  answer. 

"  What  do  you  want  me  for  ?  "  asked  >the 
policeman,  as  he  came  up. 

"  I  don't  believe  you'll  be  needed — now,"  an- 
swered Dick. 

"  It's  all  right,  Murphy,"  put  in  Jimmy  Bud- 
ley,  quickly.  "  We  had  a  misunderstanding 
over  orders,  that's  all." 

"  This  young  man  told  me  a  flying  machine 
had  been  stolen,"  said  Murphy,  and  nodded  to- 
wards Stanley. 

"  It  was  a  misunderstanding.  I  wasn't  to 
blame."  The  section  boss  turned  to  Dick. 
"  I'll  get  a  freight  engine  to  run  the  car  with  the 
machine  down  to  Ashton  inside  of  an  hour." 

"Very  well,"  answered  Dick.  "And  be 
careful  that  the  biplane  isn't  damaged  in  un- 
loading." 

"  She  ain't  much  but  kindlin'  wood  now,"  and   - 
the  section  boss  smiled  a  trifle. 

"  Well,  the  engine  is  all  right — and  that's  the 


THE    SALE    OF    THE    BIPLANE  71 

valuable  part  of  her,"  returned  Dick.  "  I'll  look 
for  her  at  Ashton  in  an  hour." 

"  Want  to  ride  down  on  the  flat  car  with 
'her?" 

"  I'll  see  about  that." 

The  matter  was  talked  over,  and  in  the  end 
it  was  agreed  that  Dick  and  Sam  should  ride  on 
the  flat  car,  while  Tom  went  with  Stanley  and 
Jack  Mason  in  the  automobile.  Then  the  sec- 
tion boss  went  off  to  get  the  freight  engine  to 
haul  the  flat  car. 

"  Got  out  of  that  better  than  I  expected," 
whispered  Sam  to  his  big  brother. 

"  It  pays  to  put  on  a  front,  Sam,"  was  the  an- 
swer. "  If  I  had  been  weak-kneed  about  it  that 
fellow  wouldn't  have  done  a  thing." 

"  Oh,  you've  got  a  head  for  business,  Dick — 
I  can  see  that,"  said  the  youngest  Rover,  ad- 
miringly. 

"  I  hope  so,  Sam — for  I  think  I'll  need  it 
soon." 

"  You  mean  for  helping  Dad?  " 

"  Yes," 

"It's  too  bad  he  has  these  weak  spells,  isn't 
'it?" 

"Yes.  What  he  needs,  I  think,  is  a  good, 
long  rest." 

The  others  went  off  in  the  touring  auto,  and 


72 

Dick  and  Sam  made  themselves  at  home  on  the 
flat  car.  Soon  a  freight  engine  backed  up,  the 
car  was  attached;  and  off  they  started,  in  com- 
pany with  the  section  boss  and  two  track  labor- 
ers, in  the  direction  of  Ashton. 

As  the  Rovers  could  readily  see,  the  Dartaway^ 
was  a  complete  wreck,  beyond  the  possibility  of 
being  repaired.     But  the  motor  looked  to  be  in 
good    order,    and    the    stays    and    turn-buckles 
would,  of  course,  be  worth  something. 

When  Ashton  was  reached  Sam  and  Dick 
found  that  the  automobile  and  its  party  had  got- 
tftn  there  ahead  of  them. 

"  I've  found  a  place  where  we  can  store  the 
biplane — or  what's  left  of  it,"  said  Tom.  "  In 
that  barn,"  and  he  pointed  to  a  structure  di- 
rectly beside  the  tracks. 

"Good  enough ! "  cried  Dick.  "  That  will 
save  the  trouble  and  expense  of  hauling  it  any 
distance." 

The  flat  car  was  stopped  in  front  of  the  barn, 
and  after  some  trouble  the  remains  of  the  bi- 
plane were  transferred  to  the  structure.  Then 
the  section  boss  brought  out  a  receipt  which  Dick 
signed. 

"  Next  time  I  move  a  flying  machine  I'll  make 
sure  that  orders  are  O.  K.,"  he  remarked, 
grimly. 


THE    SALE    OF    THE    BIPLANE 


73 


"  It  might  save  a  lot  of  trouble,"  answered 
Tom,  dryly. 

"  Tell  me — didn't  you  act  on  orders  from  that 
lawyer,  Fogg?  "  questioned  Dick,  curiously. 

"  I  did — if  you  want  to  know." 

"  I  thought  so.  He's  too  sharp  for  his  own 
good." 

"  You're  right — and  maybe  he'll  catch  it  for 
this,"  answered  Jimmy  Budley;  and  then  he  and 
his  men  rode  away  on  the  flat  car,  leaving  our 
friends  to  themselves. 

"Well,  now  you've  got  the  wreckage,  what 
are  you  going  to  do  with  it  ?  "  questioned  Stan- 
ley. 

"  Offer  it  to  the  folks  who  build  flying  ma- 
chines," answered  Dick.  "  I'll  write  the  letters 
to-night" 

With  the  biplane  off  their  minds,  the  Rovers 
rejoined  their  friends  in  the  automobile,  and  took 
a  run  through  the  country  for  fifty  miles  or 
more.  They  stopped  at  a  country  hotel,  and 
there  Dick  treated  to  cake,  ice  cream  and  other 
refreshments. 

The  letters  to  the  flying  machine  manufac- 
'turers  brought  various  replies.  Several  did  not 
care  to  buy  the  wreckage  at  all,  \vhi!e  others  of- 
fered a  ridiculously  low  price. 

"  This  doesn't  look  encouraging,"    ivas  Dick's 


74 


THE   ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 


comment.  "  Boys,  I  guess  we'll  have  to  pocket 
our  share  of  the  loss." 

The  next  day,  however,  came  another  letter, 
one  from  a  young  aviator  of  Worcester.  He 
wrote  that  he  had  heard  that  they  had  the  wreck- 
age for  sale  and  if  it  was  still  on  the  market  he 
would  come  and  look  at  it. 

"  Maybe  he'll  give  us  a  little  more  than  those 
manufacturers  offer,"  said  Sam,  hopefully. 

The  letter  was  answered,  and  the  young  avia- 
tor came  on  the  next  day,  going  first  to  inspect 
the  remains  of  the  Dartaway  and  then  coming 
up  to  the  college. 

"  Pretty  well  smashed,"  said  he,  to  the  Rover 
boys.  "  About  all  that  is  good  is  the  motor  and 
fittings." 

"But  that  engine  is  a  dandy,"  said  Tom. 

"  How  much  do  you  want  for  the  outfit  as  it 
stands?" 

"  I  don't  know,"  answered  Dick.  "  The  bi- 
plane cost  us  about  three  thousand  dollars." 

"  Yes,  but  she's  a  complete  wreck.  All  I  can 
use  is  the  engine — and  maybe  a  few  other 
things." 

"  Well,  make  an  offer,"  put  in  Tom. 

"  I  might  pay  three  hundred  dollars." 

"  Make  it  double  that  and  the  machine  is 
yours,"  returned  Dick. 


THE    SALE    OF    THE    BIPLANE  ;5 

"  No,  it  wouldn't  be  worth  six  hundred  dollars 
to  me,"  answered  the  young  aviator. 

A  discussion  lasting  the  best  part  of  half  an. 
hour  ensued.  The  aviator  went  up  to  four  hun- 
dred dollars  and  then  to  four  hundred  and  fifty 
Finally,  Dick  said  he  would  accept  five  hundred 
dollars  cash;  and  the  bargain  was  concluded  at 
that  figure.  The  money  was  paid  over,  and  the 
Rover  boys  gave  the  purchaser  a  bill  of  sale,  and 
•he  departed  without  delay,  stating  he  wished  to 
make  arrangements  for  shipping  the  wrecked  bi- 
plane away. 

"  Not  so  bad,  after  all,"  declared  Dick,  when 
the  brothers  were  alone. 

"  It's  very  good,"  put  in  Tom. 

"  That's  the  end  of  the  Dartaway,"  came  from 
Sam,  mournfully.  "  Well,  we  had  some  pretty 
good  times  in  her  while  she  lasted." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

A    BOX    OF     CANDY 

"  SAY,  I've  got  to  have  some  fun  or  bust !  " 

It  was  Tom  who  uttered  the  words.  For  over 
•a  week  everything  had  run  along  smoothly  at 
Brill  College.  The  boys  had  settled  down  to 
their  studies.  They  had  sent  letters  home,  and 
to  the  girls,  and  had  received  several  communica- 
tions in  return.  They  had  been  congratulated 
on  their  escape  from  the  wrecking  of  the  biplane, 
and  Dora  had  written  to  Dick  urging  him  to  give 
up  flying. 

"  I'm  going  to  give  it  up  for  a  while,  at  least," 
Dick  had  answered. 

During  those  days  the  search  had  been  kept 
up  for  Josiah  Crabtree,  but  so  far  nothing  had 
been  heard  of  the  fugitive  from  justice.  That 
the  man  had  left  the  neighborhood  waa  quite 
probable. 

"  What  sort  of  fun  do  you  want,  Tom?  "  asked 
Sam,  throwing  down  the  book  he  had  been 
studying. 

"  Oh,  anything,"  was  the  answer.  "  I  feel 
76 


2   BOX   OF   CANDY  ff 

as  if  I  was  getting  musty  and  rusty,  and  I've 
simply  got  to  do  something.  Wish  there  was  a 
hazing  on,  or  something  like  that,"  and  the  fun- 
loving  Rover  gazed  moodily  out  of  the  window. 

"  Now  don't  you  get  yourself  into  trouble, 
Tom/'  warned  Dick.  "  Better  get  at  that  theme 
you've  got  to  write  on  *  Educational  Institu- 
tions of  the  Revolutionary  Period  '." 

"  Hang  the  themes,  Dick !  I've  got  to  have 
some  fun — and  I'm  going  out  for  it !  "  answered 
Tom,  and  catching  up  his  cap  he  passed  out  of 
the  dormitory. 

"  Guess  I'll  go,  too,"  added  Sam,  and  quickly 
followed.  Soon  Dick  came  also,  not  wishing 
to  be  left  behind  if  anything  unusual  was  to 
take  place. 

In  the  lower  hallway  the  boys  found  several 
men  at  work,  cleaning  and  oiling  the  hardwood 
floor.  They  had  a  box  of  wax  polish  with  them, 
and  this  immediately  gave  Tom  an  idea. 

"  I'd  like  to  buy  a  little  of  that,"  he  said,  to 
the  head  workman,  and  a  bargain  was  quickly 
struck,  and  the  fun-loving  Rover  walked  away 
with  half  a  box  of  the  wax  polish. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  it  ?  "  asked 
Sam. 

"  Don't  know  yet — but  I'll  do  something," 
was  the  reply. 


78    THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  Looks  like  maple  sugar  candy,"  said  Dick, 
gazing  at  the  wax. 

"Wait!  I've  struck  it!"  cried  Tom.  "Just 
the  thing!  Hurray!"  And  his  face  brightened. 

"What  is  it,  Tom?"  asked  both  of  his  broth- 
ers. 

"  I'll  make  William  Philander  Tubbs  a  present 
of  this,"  was  the  reply.  "Come  on,  and.  watch 
how  I  do  it." 

"  William  Philander  has  gone  to  see  that  new 
girl  of  his,"  answered  Sam. 

"  Not  just  yet — but  he'll  be  on  the  way  soon. 
I'll  have  to  hurry,  if  I  want  to  do  something." 

Tom  led  the  way  up  a  back  stairs  and  to  the 
room  occupied  that  term  by  Tubbs  and  some 
other  students.  They  met  the  dudish  student, 
half  dressed,  going  to  the  lavatory  to  wash  up. 

"Quick!"  cried  Tom.  "I  hope  I  can  find 
the  box." 

"  What  box?  "  asked  Dick,  as  he  and  Sam  fol- 
lowed Tom  into  Tubbs'  room. 

"  The  box  of  candy  lie  bought  for  Miss  Rug- 
gles.  It  was  a  dandy — but  maybe  we  can  im- 
prove it  just  a  little,"  and  Tom  grinned 
broadly. 

All  looked  around  and  presently  found  the 
box  of  candy  on  a  dresser.  It  was  tied  up  with 
a  blue  ribbon,  but  this  Tom  slipped  off  with 


A    BOX    OF   CANDY  79 

ease.  Inside  of  the  box  were  chocolates  and 
bonbons  and  some  candied  fruit. 

"  Hold  the  box,  Sam,"  said  Tom,  whipping 
out  his  knife.  "  We've  got  to  move  mighty 
quick!" 

On  the  instant  he  was  at  work  with  his  pocket- 
knife,  cutting  the  floor  wax  into  various  shapes 
to  resemble  candy.  He  took  out  some  of  the 
candied  fruit  and  substituted  the  wax.  Then 
he  felt  in  his  pocket. 

"This  will  help,"  he  said,  bringing  forth  a 
soapstone  slate  pencil,  which  he  cracked  into  tiny 
lengths.  "  The  candy  that  lasts ! "  he  cried 
softly,  as  he  dropped  the  bits  into  the  box. 

"  Rather  rough  on  the  girl,"  declared  Dick. 

"  Not  at  all,  Dick,"  said  Sam.  "  I  was  intro- 
duced to  her  last  week  and  the  very  next  day  she 
passed  me  on  the  road  with  a  stare  as  if  she  had 
never  3een  me." 

"And  Stanley  says  she  is  stuck  up  to  the  last 
degree,"  added  Tom.  "  Maybe  this  will  take 
her  down  a  peg — anyway  I  hope  so." 

Sam  was  searching  his  pockets.  He  brought 
out  several  dried  beans  and  a  heavy  rubber 
elastic. 

"  The  remains  of  a  slingshot  and  ammunition 
I  confiscated  from  a  Freshy  who  was  taking 
shots  at  me,"  he  explained. 


8o         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"Drop  the  beans  in — they'll  look  like  jelly 
beams !  "  cried  Tom.  "  And  cut  up  that  rubber 
band  into  pieces  for  jujube-paste!" 

Dick  was  at  the  door  on  guard,  and  presently 
'he  gave  a  low  whistle,  to  notify  the  others  that 
Tubbs  was  coming  back.  Instantly  Tom  shut 
the  candy  box,  put  back  the  paper  covering  and 
ribbon;  and  then  he  and  Sam  slipped  out  of  the 
dormitory  by  a  side  door,  so  that  the  dudish 
student  might  not  see  them. 

Such  a  joke  as  had  been  played  Tom  could 
not  keep  to  himself,  and  when  the  Rovers  went 
downstairs  he  told  Stanley,  Songbird  and  Spud 
Jackson. 

"Fine!"  cried  Stanley.  "That  Miss  Rug- 
gles  deserves  it,  too.  She  thinks,  just  because 
her  father  has  rocks,  that  she  is  too  good  to 
even  recognize  any  of  us.  The  only  fellow  she 
tolerates  is  Tubby — I  guess  because  he's  such  a 
dude." 

Tom  wanted  to  follow  William  Philander 
Tubbs  when  he  went  to  see  the  young  lady,  who 
was  stopping  with  an  aunt  who  lived  not  far 
from  Brill.  The  others  were  willing,  and  all 
hung  around  the  campus  until  the  stylish  student 
made  his  appearance. 

"  She's  crazy  for  candy — Tubby  told  me  so 
himself,"  said  Spud.  "  Eats  about  a  barrelful 


A    BOX    OF    CANDY  8r 

a  week,  £t>  I  understand.  That's  why  he  got  her 
*}re  box,  I  guess." 

"If  she  eats  that  boxful  she'll  be  a  good  one," 
was  Tom's  dry  comment. 

It  was  not  long  before  Tubbs  appeared.  The 
Stylish  student  was  faultlessly  attired,  in  light 
trousers,  dark  Prince  Albert  coat,  white  vest, 
spats,  and  a  silk  hat.  In  one  hand  he  carried  a 
cane  and  in  the  other  the  box  of  candy. 

"  My,  but  we  are  some  swell ! "  murmured 
Sam. 

"  He  ought  to  pose  for  a  fashion  magazine," 
returned  Tom.  "  Keep  back,  fellows,  or  he'll 
spot  us ! "  And  he  pulled  those  nearest  to  him 
behind  some  shrubbery. 

William  Philander  passed  them  and  they  fol- 
lowed at  a  safe  distance  in  the  darkness.  The 
dudish  student  headed  directly  for  the  house  at 
which  Miss  Clarabel  Ruggles  was  stopping,  and 
the  others  saw  him  ascend  the  front  piazza,  and 
ring  the  bell.  A  servant  ushered  him  in,  and 
the  boys  saw  the  light  turned  up  in  a  parlor. 

"  Come  on  and  see  the  fun,"  said  Tom,  and 
led  the  way  across  a  lawn.  The  curtains  to  the 
parlor  windows  were  half  up,  so  they  could  look 
into  the  room  with  ease.  One  window  was 
partly  open  for  ventilation. 

They  saw  William  Philander  sitting  in  a  chair, 


82         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

the  box  of  candy  on  his  lap.  Presently  Clarabel 
Ruggles  came  in,  attired  in  an  elaborate  even- 
ing gown.  Tubbs  at  once  arose  to  his  feet  and, 
bowing  very  low,  accepted  her  hand,  which  was 
held  on  high.  Then  the  dudish  student  said 
something  and  offered  the  box  of  candy. 

"  Oh,  is  this  really  for  me ! "  those  outside 
heard  the  young  lady  cry,  the  words  coming 
through  the  partly  open  window. 

"  No,  he  bought  it  for  the  cat ! "  murmured 
Tom,  and  at  this  the  others  had  to  snkker. 

"A — er — a  slight  token  of  my  regard,  don't 
you  know,"  said  William  Philander,  with  a 
flourish. 

"So  kind  of  you,  Mr  Tubbs!"  The  girl 
gazed  hungrily  at  the  box.  "Shall  I  open  it 
now?" 

"If  you  wish  to,"  answered  the  dudish  stu- 
dent, gallantly. 

"  I  will — and  you  shall  have  a  share  of  the 
candy,"  said  the  young  lady,  and  quickly  drew 
off  the  ribbon  and  paper.  "Oh,  my,  how  per- 
fectly delicious!"  she  murmured.  "Oh,  Mr. 
Tubbs,  how  could  you  guess  just  the  kind  I 
like!" 

"  Help  yourself,  my  dear  Miss  Ruggles,"  said 
Tubbs,  as  the  box  was  held  out.  "Ladies  first, 
'don't  you  know,"  and  he  smiled  sweetly. 


A    BOX   OF   CANDY  83 

She  took  a  candy  and  he  did  likewise,  and  as 
they  ate  they  talked  of  various  things.  Then 
the  box  was  passed  back  and  forth. 

"  Yes,  I  came  to  see  if  you  would  go  to  the — 
er — to  the — er "  stammered  William  Philan- 
der, and  then  he  came  to  a  dead  halt.  "  Oh,  my 
tooth !  "  he  gasped,  suddenly. 

"What  is  it,  Mr.  Tubbs?" 

"  I — er — I  really  think  I've  broken  one  of  my 
« — er — teeth,  don't  you  know ! "  gasped  the  styl- 
ish student.  "Oh,  dear,  that  candy  is  awfully 
hard!" 

"  I  didn't  find  it  so,  Mr.  Tubbs.  Here,  try 
another  piece,"  answered  the  young  lady,  and 
helped  both  him  and  herself.  "As  you  were 
going  to  say,"  she  added,  with  a  smile.  "  Was 

it  that  concert  that "  She,  too,  stopped 

short.  "  Oh,  my !  "  she  gasped. 

"Wha — what  is  it?"  stammered  William 
Philander. 

"This  piece  of  candy  I  have!  It  tastes  aw- 
ffully  queer!" 

"So  does  this  piece  I  have!"  groaned  the 
tfudish  student. 

"Oh,  Mr  Tubbs,  what  kind  of  candy  is  it 
anyway?  My  teeth  are  —  are  stuck  fast  in 
it!" 

At  this  moment  the  aunt  of  the  young  lady 


84         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

came  in.     She  looked  in  wonder  at  the  others, 
for  both  were  making  wry  faces. 

"  It's  the  candy,  Aunt  Mabel ! "  cried  the  young 
lady.  "  It — it  tastes  so  queer !  " 

"Ha!  Let  me  see  that  box?"  exclaimed  the 
aunt,  who  was  a  portly  person.  "  I  read  in  thev 
newspaper  only  yesterday  of  some  folks  being 
poisoned  by  eating  cheap  candy."  And  she 
looked  severely  at  poor  Tubbs. 

"  This  is — er — not  cheap  candy,  my  dear  Mrs. 
Garlett,"  spluttered  William  Philander.  "It  is 
some  of  the  best  to  be  had  in  Ashton,  I  assure 
you." 

By  this  time  the  lady  had  taken  something 
from  the  box  and  was  sampling  it.  As  it 
chanced  to  be  a  piece  of  the  rubber  band  she 
made  slow  progress  in  chewing  it. 

"  I  never  saw  such  candy !  "  she  declared,  with 
vigor.  She  took  another  piece.  "  That  was  all 
right,"  she  added,  a  moment  later.  "  But  this 
piece !  Why,  I  declare,  it  tastes  like  wax !  And 
it  is  wax,  too,"  she  continued,  inspecting  the 
lump  more  closely. 

"  Wax ! "  gasped  poor  William  Philander, 
hollowly. 

"  Yes,  wax,  Mr.  Tubbs." 

"Oh,  you  must  be  mistaken,  my  dear  MFS. 
Garlett!" 


A    BOX    OF    CANDY  85 

"  Humph !  I  think  I  know  wax  when  I  see  it. 
And  this  is  rubber — nothing  but  rubber !  " 

"  Oh,  Aunt  Clarabel ! "  murmured  the  young 
lady. 

"  Let  me  look  at  that  box! "  cried  the  lady  of 
the  house.  She  commenced  to  make  an  inspec- 
tion, holding  the  box  close  to  a  lamp.  "  Humph ! 
Rubber  bands,  beans,  slate  pencils,  and  polishing 
wax !  "  she  declared.  "  Mr.  Tubbs,  do  you  call 
this  a  box  of  candy?  " 

"  Upon  my  word,  Mrs.  Garlett,  I "  gasped 

the  dudish  student  He  did  not  know  how  to 
finish. 

"It's  just  some  old  horrid  joke!"  declared 
Miss  Ruggles,  haughtily.  "  One  of  your  college 
jokes,  I  presume!"  And  she  gazed  scornfully 
at  poor  Tubbs. 

"No,  no,  I— er— I  didn't— I  really " 

gasped  William  Philander. 

"You  can  have  your  box  of  candy  back,  Mr. 
Tubbs,"  went  on  the  girl,  sarcastically.  "  I  do 
not  wish  it.  And  allow  me  to  bid  you  good 
evening !  "  And  with  a  stately  bow  she  passed 
jut  of  the  room. 

"  I'll  keep  this  box  of  so-called  candy  and  have 
it  investigated,"  said  Mrs.  Garlett.  "  I  don't 
want  to  be  poisoned.  Good  night,  Mr.  Tubbs." 

"But,  my  dear  Mrs.  Garlett " 


•B6 

"  I  said  good  night,"  interrupted  the  lady  of 
the  house.  "  Mary  will  show  you  to  the  door," 
she  added,  and  then,  in  complete  bewilderment, 
poor  William  Philander  rushed  out  of  the  resi- 
dence, and  along  the  garden  walk  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  road  leading  to  Brill. 


CHAPTER   IX 

A  BREAKDOWN  ON  THE  ROAD 

**  I  RATHER  think  that  was  rough  on  William 
Philander,"  remarked  Dick,  with  a  serious  shake 
of  his  head. 

"  Oh,  he  has  got  to  be  taken  down  somehow," 
replied  Tom. 

"That's  right,"  added  Stanley.  "Why,  the 
way  he  acts  towards  some  of  the  fellows  is  out- 
rageous. Just  because  they  don't  dress  as  well 
as  he  does  he  thinks  them  beneath  his  notice." 

"  And  I  wouldn't  waste  any  sympathy  on  that 
girl,"  put  in  Spud.  "  She  is  as  bad  as  Tubby, 
when  it  comes  to  cutting  the  fellows  she  doesn't 
care  to  know." 

"  Well,  I  guess  it  will  all  pass  over,"  remarked 
Sam.  And  it  must  have,  for  a  few  days  later 
William  Philander  and  Clarabel  Ruggles  were 
seen  out  driving  together  and  apparently  as 
friendly  as  over.  The  dudish  student  had  sent 
the  young  lady  a  letter  stating  he  thought  some 
of  his  fellow  collegians  had  doctored  the  box  of 
candy,  and  this  explanation  was  accepted  by  the 
87 


88         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

girl  and  her  aunt.  Then  William  Philander  sent 
the  girl  some  candy  he  was  sure  was  all  right, 
and  also  a  big  bouquet  of  roses;  and  that  was 
the  end  of  the  unpleasantness. 

It  must  not  be  thought  that  in  those  days  the 
girls  at  Hope  Seminary  were  forgotten.  When- 
ever the  Rover  boys  got  a  chance  they  visited 
the  place,  and  many  a  nice  time  they  and  the 
girls  had  together.  On  those  occasions  Dick  and 
Dora  would  roam  off  together,  the  others  making 
no  attempt  to  follow  them,  and  the  pair  would 
plan  the  many  things  they  hoped  to  do  in  the 
future. 

"  You  have  not  heard  from  Josiah  Crabtree, 
have  you?"  questioned  Dick,  on  one  of  these 
visits. 

"  Not  a  word — and  I  don't  want  to  hear  from 
him,"  replied  Dora. 

"  He's  in  hiding,  but  he'll  let  us  hear  from  him 
sooner  or  later — mark  my  words." 

"  Oh,  I  wish  he  hadn't  escaped,  Dick! "  And 
Dora  clung  tightly  to  his  arm. 

"  Well,  that  can't  be  helped." 

"  Is  there  anything  new  about  your  father's 
business?  " 

"  Nothing  of  any  importance." 

"How  does  he  feel?" 

"  In  his  last  letter  he  said  he  felt  somewhat 


A  BREAKDOWN  ON   THE  ROAD  89 

better  and  was  going  to  take  a  trip  to  New  York. 
How  is  your  mother?" 

"  Quite  well.  But  the  fact  that  old  Crabtree 
is  at  large  disturbs  her  very  much.  As  soon  as 
she  heard  of  it,  she  went  over  to  the  Lanings' 
;nome  to  stay." 

The  boys  had  driven  over  to  Hope  in  a  car- 
riage. When  they  started  to  return  to  Brill  it 
was  quite  dark. 

"  We've  got  to  hurry  up,"  remarked  Tom,  as 
they  rode  away,  Sam  driving  the  team. 

"  Why  so?  "  asked  Dick.  "  We  have  no  bon- 
ing to  do  to-night." 

"  Have  you  forgotten  the  spread  Bob  Grimes 
is  going  to  give?  He  said  it  was  to  be  the  finest 
yet  given  at  Brill,  and  I  don't  want  to  miss 
it." 

"  That's  so ! "  cried  Dick.  "  Sure,  we  want  to 
be  on  hand,  since  we  are  invited.  Bob  is  a 
first-class  fellow." 

"  Queer  we  forgot  about  that  feast,"  mur- 
mured Sam.  "  But  I  suppose  we  were  thinking 
too  much  cf  the  girls,"  and  he  grinned  sheep- 
ishly. 

"  What  time  is  the  spread  to  come  off,  Tom  ?  " 
asked  his  big  brother. 

"  Ten  o'clock  sharp,  so  Bob  said." 

"In  his  room?" 


90         THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"His  room  and  the  one  next  to  it.  They 
connect,  you  know." 

"  We'll  get  there  in  plenty  of  time — unless  we 
have  a  breakdown — which  I  don't  expect.'* 

"  Don't  be  too  sure  of  that  This  carriage  is 
none  too  good.  I  said  so  when  Abner  Filbury 
brought  it  around  for  me." 

"The  wheels  do  appear  to  be  somewhat 
shaky,"  remarked  Sam. 

"  We  miss  the  biplane,  for  making  quick 
trips,"  returned  Tom,  with  a  sigh.  "  We  ought 
to  get  a  runabout — an  auto  runabout,  I  mean." 

"  That's  the  talk ! "  cried  his  younger  brother. 
l(  If  we  had  one  of  those  we  could  run  over  to 
Hope  whenever  we  pleased." 

The  main  road  was  being  repaired,  so,  at  a 
certain  place,  the  boys  had  to  turn  off  on  a  side 
road  for  a  distance  of  nearly  a  mile.  Here  the 
going  was  anything  but  good,  and  they  went 
down  in  more  than  one  rut  or  hollow. 

"Be  careful,  Sam!"  warned  Dick.  "Don't 
drive  so  fast." 

"  Oh,  go  ahead,"  put  in  Tom,  impatiently 
"  We  are  losing  a  lot  of  time  on  this  side  road." 

Just  then  came  a  narrow  turn,  with  a  down 
grade,  very  uneven  and  full  of  rocks.  Over  the 
latter  bumped  the  carriage.  Then  came  a  sud- 
den jounce,  followed  by  a  crash. 


A  BREAKDOWN  ON   THE  ROAD  gf 

"Whoa!"  yelled  Sam  to  the  team,  and 
brought  them  to  a  standstill  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill. 

"Wha;  broke?"  asked  Dick,  anxiously. 

"The  back  axle,  I  think,"  answeied  Tom  as 
he  leaped  to  the  ground. 

The  boys  had  a  lantern  with  them  and  with 
this  they  looked  for  the  damage  done.  Tom's 
guess  proved  correct — the  back  axle  had  given 
way  close  to  the  left  wheel. 

"  What's  to  be  done  now  ? "  asked  Sam,  in 
some  dismay.  "  Say,  I  don't  think  that  was  my 
fault,"  he  added,  quickly. 

"  I  told  you  to  be  careful,"  returned  Dick. 
"  Now  we  are  in  a  pickle  and  no  mistake." 

"'  if  we  had  a  wire  we  might  bind  up  that 
axle,"  said  Tom,  looking  at  the  fracture,  which 
was  in  the  form  of  a  long  split. 

"  But  we  haven't  any,"  said  Dick.  He  looked 
into  the  carriage.  "  Nothing  here  but  the  hitch- 
ing strap  and  I  don't  think  that  will  do." 

"  There  is  a  farmhouse,"  said  Sam,  pointing 
to  a  light  in  a  nearby  field.  "  Maybe  I  can  get 
help  there.'* 

"  We'll  see/'  said  Dick.  "  Just  draw  up 
alongside  the  fenc.e — so  that  nobody  will  run 
into  the  carriage.  Now  that  the  main  road  is 
shut  off,  everybody  has  to  use  this  one." 


^2    THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

Soon  the  carriage  was  safe  by  the  roadside, 
and  then  the  three  Rovers  hurried  to  where  the 
light  gleamed  from  the  kitchen  windows  of  a 
small  farmhouse.  Dick  knocked  on  the  door  of 
the  place. 

There  was  a  stir  from  within,  and  then  the 
door  was  opened,  revealing  an  old  man,  who 
held  a  lighted  lamp  in  his  trembling  hand. 

"Who  be  yeou?"  he  drawled. 

"  We  have  had  a  breakdown  on  the  road," 
answered  Dick.  "  We  thought  we  might  get 
some  help  here." 

"A  breakdown,  eh?  What  sort?"  And  the 
old  man  gazed  curiously  at  the  boys. 

In  a  few  brief  words  the  Rovers  explained 
matters. 

"  If  you  can  let  us  have  some  wire,  or  straps, 
we'll  pay  you  for  them,"  went  on  Dick. 

"  I  hain't  got  much,"  replied  the  old  man. 
"  I'm  poor,  I  am — with  havin'  sech  rheumatism  I 
can't  work  the  farm.  But  yeou  kin  look  in  the 
barn  an'  see  wot  there  is." 

The  boys  waited  to  hear  no  more,  but  hur- 
ried to  the  structure  indicated — a  building  a!l 
but  ready  to  fall  down.  In  a  harness  closet 
they  found  a  few  old  straps  and  a  coil  of  fence 
wire. 

"  I    guess    these    will    answer,"    said    Did\ . 


A   BREAKDOWN  ON   THE  ROAD  93 

"  Anyway,  let  us  try  them.  Sam,  you  go  back 
and  pay  the  old  man  whatever  he  wants,  while 
Tom  and  I  do  the  mending." 

"  All  right,"  answered  the  youngest  Rover, 
and  hurried  off  in  the  direction  of  the  farm- 
house. 

Sam  found  the  old  man  sitting  by  a  small 
table,  eating  a  frugal  meal  of  beans  and  bread 
and  coffee. 

"  We  found  three  old  straps  and  some  fence 
wire,"  said  the  youth.  "What  do  you  suppose 
they  are  worth?  " 

"  Well,  I'm  a  poor  man,  I  be,"  whined  the 
old  man.  "  I  don't  think  yeou  be  goin'  to  rob 
a  poor,  old  man." 

"  Not  at  all,"  answered  Sam,  kindly.  "  How; 
much  do  you  want?" 

"  Them  tudder  fellers  wot  had  a  breakdown 
give  me  a  dollar  fer  wot  they  got,"  said  the  old 
man,  shrewdly. 

"If  I  give  you  a  dollar,  will  that  be  all 
right?" 

"  I  guess  so,"  answered  the  old  man.  He 
knew  what  three  straps  and  what  wire  were 
meant,  and  knew  they  were  not  worth  half  the 
amount  offered. 

"  Who  had  the  other  breakdown  ? "  askeii 
Sam,  as  he  handed  over  a  dollar  bill. 


94          THE   ROVER   BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"  Some  fellers  in  an  autymobile — a  couple  o* 
weeks  ago,  or  so." 

"  Some  men  in  an  automobile ! "  cried  Sam, 
with  sudden  interest.  "Who  were  they?" 

"I  dunno.  They  left  the  autymobile  in  the 
barn  one  night  an'  come  fer  it  the  next  day. 
They  give  me  a  dollar." 

"  How  many  men  ?  " 

"  Two  I  think  there  was,  although  one  on  'em 
kept  putty  well  out  o'  sight,  as  if  he  didn't  want 
to  be  seen." 

"  How  did  the  man  look  that  you  saw  ?  " 

"  Oh,  he  was  a  tall  feller,  with  a  face  that 
stuck  out  here,"  and  the  old  man  pointed  to  his 
chin. 

"  And  did  he  have  real  heavy  eyebrows  ?  " 

"  He  sure  did — eyebrows  'most  as  heavy  as  a 
moustache." 

"  How  did  the  other  man  look  ?  " 

"I  dunno — didn't  git  no  good  sight  o'  him. 
But,  say,  wot  you  askin'  about  them  fer?  Do 
,you  know  'em?" 

"  I  think  I  know  one  of  the  men,  but  I  am 
not  sure,"  returned  Sam,  and  went  outside  to 
join  his  brothers. 

Dick  and  Tom  were  deeply  interested  in  what 
the  old  farmer  had  told  their  brother,  and  as 
soon  as  the  strapping  and  wiring  of  the  split 


A   BREAKDOWN  ON   THE  ROAD  g$ 

axle  was  completed  all  of  the  boys  went  into 
the  house  to  ask  the  farmer  more  about  the  two 
men  and  the  automobile. 

"  I  can't  tell  yeou  nuthin'  more,"  said  the  far- 
mer. "  They  left  the  autymobile  in  the  barn  all 
night  an'  paid  me  a  dollar  fer  it.  I  don't  know 
who  they  was,  or  where  they  went." 

"  Can  you  remember  the  date  this  happened  ?  " 
asked  Dick. 

"  I  certainly  kin  do  that,  fer  it  was  on  my 
birthday,  the  tenth." 

"  The  day  Crabtree  escaped ! "  murmured  Dick, 
and  Sam  and  Tom  nodded. 

"Where  did  they  go?  "  asked  Tom. 

"  I  dunno.     They  went  off  at  night." 

This  was  all  the  old  farmer  could  tell,  and 
a  few  minutes  later  the  boys  left  him.  All  were 
rather  thoughtful  as  they  got  into  the  carriage 
once  more  and  drove  off. 

"  Just  to  think  of  it!  "  cried  Tom.  "  Crabtree 
was  around  here  a  night  and  a  day,  and  nobody 
knew  it!" 

"  It's  too  bad  we  didn't  get  news  of  it  before/ 
returned  Dick.     "  We  might  have  followed  up  ( 
that  '  autymobile,'  as  the  old  man  called  it.    But 
it's  too  late  now.     They  must  be  miles  and  miles 
away.     Crabtree  may  be  in  Canada,  or  on  his 
way  to  Africa,  or  China." 


"96    THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  I  don't  believe  he'd  go  to  Africa  or  China," 
said  Tom.  "  I  think  he'll  hang  around,  trying 
to  do  us  or  the  Stanhopes  or  Lanings  an  in- 
jury." 

"  Just  what  I  think,"  put  in  Sam.  "  I'd  like 
ro  know  who  the  fellow  with  the  pointed  chin 
and  heavy  eyebrows  is." 

"  He  must  be  some  old  friend,  or  he  wouldn't 
help  Crabtree  to  get  away." 

"  Either  an  old  friend,  or  else  Crabtree  paid 
him  pretty  well  for  his  services." 

"  Well,  Crabtree  is  gone,  and  that  is  all  there 
is  to  it." 

All  the  way  to  Brill  the  boys  discussed  the  sit- 
uation. At  first  they  thought  they  would  notify 
the  authorities  about  what  they  had  learned,  but 
finally  concluded  that  this  would  do  no  good. 
Too  much  time  had  elapsed  since  the  automobile 
had  stopped  at  the  old  farmhouse. 

Arriving  at  the  college,  they  turned  the  car- 
riage over  to  Abner  Filbury,  explaining  about 
the  axle  and  offering  to  pay  for  the  damage  done. 
Then  they  harried  to  their  room,  to  get  ready 
for  the  feast  Bob  Grimes  was  to  give, 

As  they  entered  the  dormitory  they  saw  a  let- 
ter lying  on  the  table.  It  bore  a  special  delivery 
stamp  and  was  addressed  to  Dick. 

"Hello,  what's  this?"  cried  the  oldest  Rover 


A   BREAKDOWN   ON   THE   ROAD  97- 

boy.  "  A  letter  from  home,  and  sent  by  special 
delivery.  What  can  it  mean?" 

"No  bad  news,  I  hope,"  said  Sam,  his  face 
sobering. 

"  Read  it,  Dick,"  put  in  Tom.  "  It  must  be 
something  important." 


CHAPTER   X 

STARTLING  NEWS 

SAM  and  Tom  watched  with  interest  while 
Dick  tore  open  the  envelope  and  took  out  the 
letter  it  contained.  The  oldest  Rover  boy 
scanned  the  communication  hastily. 

"What  is  it?"  questioned  both  of  his  broth- 
ers, impatiently. 

"It's  from  Uncle  Randolph/'  replied  Dick. 
"  He  says  father  went  to  New  York  several 
days  ago." 

"Is  that  all?" 

"  No,  he  adds  that  he  sent  father  a  telegram 
and  so  far  no  answer  has  come  back,"  went  on 
Dick,  seriously.  "  He  thinks  something  has  hap- 
pened to  dad." 

"  Oh,  Dick  "  cried  Sam.  "  What  could  hap- 
pen to  him?" 

"A  great  many  things,  Sam — in  a  big  city 
like  New  York.  He  might  get  run  down  by  a 
street  car,  or  an  automobile,  or  be  hurt  in  the 
subway,  or  on  the  elevated  railroad.  He  wasn't 
very  well,  remember." 

98 


STARTLING   NEWS 


99 


!<  Yes,  I  know  that.     Is  that  all?  " 

"  Uncle  Randolph  wants  to  know  at  once 
whether  we  have  heard  from  dad  during  the 
past  three  days." 

"  We  haven't  had  a  word,"  broke  in  Tom-  "  I 
thought  it  kind  of  strange,  too." 

The  other  boys  read  the  letter,  and  then  the 
three  talked  the  matter  over.  They  were  inter- 
rupted  by  a  knock  on  the  door,  and  Stanley  ap- 
peared. 

"Going  to  the  spread,  aren't  you?"  he  ques> 
tioned.  "  Hurry  up — it's  getting  late." 

"  I  don't  think  I  can  go,"  answered  Dick 
"  I've  got  something  I  must  attend  to — this  let- 
ter from  my  uncle,"  and  he  held  the  communi- 
cation up.  "  Sam  and  Tom  can  go." 

"  I  don't  feel  much  like  it — now,"  murmured 
Sam. 

"  Neither  do  I,"  added  Tom. 

"Oh,  you  might  as  well  go,"  urged  Dick. 
"  I'll  attend  to  the  message  to  Uncle  Randolph. 
Everything  may  be  all  right — and  there  is  no 
use  of  the  three  of  us  disappointing  Bob.  You 
go,  and  explain  why  I  didn't  come." 

"  Maybe  you  can  come  later,"  suggested  Stan- 
ley. 

"I'll  see.  But  I  must  get  word  to  ray  uncle 
first,"  answered  Dick. 


100        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

While  Sam  and  Tom  got  ready  to  attend  the 
spread  Bob  Grimes  was  to  give,  Dick  hurried 
downstairs  again.  In  the  hallway  he  ran  into 
Paul  Orben,  one  of  the  older  students  whom  he 
knew  real  well. 

"  Why  in  such  a  hurry,  Dick  ?  "  questioned 
Paul,  good-naturedly  grabbing  him  by  the 
shoulder. 

"  I  want  to  get  to  town — to  send  a  telegram 
home,"  answered  Dick.  Then,  struck  by  a  sud- 
den idea,  he  added :  "  Paul,  is  your  motorcycle 
ready  for  use  ?  " 

"  It  is,  and  if  you  want  to  use  it  to  run  down 
to  Ashton  with,  take  it,"  answered  the  other, 
readily.  He  had  once  been  up  in  the  Dartaway 
and  was  glad  of  a  chance  to  pay  the  debt  he 
thought  he  owed  the  Rovers. 

"  Thanks  very  much,  I'll  use  it,"  returned 
Dick. 

"  Come  on,  then,  and  I'll  make  sure  that  it 
is  all  right" 

The  two  young  collegians  hurried  to  a  room 
attached  to  the  gymnasium,  where  bicycles, 
motorcycles,  and  other  things  were  kept.  Soon 
the  motorcycle  was  brought  out  and  Paul  gave 
it  a  brief  inspection. 

"AH  right,"  he  announced.  "I  thought  it 
would  be." 


STARTLING   NEWS  IOI 

"  Then  I'm  off,"  answered  Dick,  and  pushing 
the  machine  along  the  path  towards  the  road,  he 
hopped  into  the  seat  and  turned  on  the  power. 

Dick  had  never  had  much  experience  in  run- 
ning a  motorcycle,  but  he  had  tried  one  enough 
to  know  how  it  should  be  handled,  and  soon  he 
was  well  on  his  way  and  riding  at  a  fair  rate 
of  speed.  The  road  was  good,  and  he  had  a 
fine  headlight,  and  almost  before  he  knew  it  he 
had  reached  Ashton  and  was  approaching  the 
depot. 

He  had  been  afraid  the  ticket  and  telegraph 
office  would  be  closed,  but  he  found  the  man 
inside,  making  up  a  report. 

"  I  want  to  rush  a  message  home,"  he  said' 
"  And  I  want  to  arrange  to  have  it  telephoned 
to  our  house.  I  will  pay  the  bill,  whatever 
it  is." 

"  It  will  depend  on  whether  we  can  get  the 
operator  at  Oak  Run,"  said  the  man.  "  He  may 
have  locked  up  for  the  night." 

The  message  was  written  out,  and  Dick  waited 
in  the  depot  for  an  answer.  Quarter  of  an  hour 
passed  slowly  and  then  the  telegraph  operatoi 
came  to  him. 

"  Sorry,  Mr.  Rover,  but  Oak  Run  doesn't  an^ 
swer.  I  guess  the  office  is  closed  for  the  night." 

"  Try  for  Spotstown,"  said  Dick,  naming  an- 


102        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

other  railroad  station  several  miles  further  from 
his  home. 

Again  came  a  wait. 

"  Same  story — can't  get  Spotstown,  either," 
said  the  operator. 

"  Well,  I've  got  to  get  somebody,  somehow," 
murmured  the  oldest  Rover  boy.  "  I  guess  you 
can  get  New  York  City,  can't  you?"  he  asked, 
with  a  faint  smile. 

"Of  course." 

"  Then  I'll  write  another  message." 

Dick  knew  that  when  his  father  was  in  the 
habit  of  going  to  the  metropolis  he  usually 
stopped  at  a  large  place  on  Broadway,  which  I 
shall  call  the  Outlook  Hotel.  He  accordingly 
addressed  a  message  to  the  manager  of  that 
hotel,  as  follows: 

"Is  Anderson  Rover  at  your  hotel?  If  so, 
have  him  telegraph  me;  otherwise  send  me  word 
at  once." 

"Now  I  guess  I'll  hear  something,"  thought 
Dick,  as  he  turned  in  this  telegram  and  paid  for 
kaving  it  transmitted.  "  Send  it  Rush,  please," 
he  told  the  operator. 

Again  tkere  was  a  wait — this  time  of  nearly 
«ialf  an  hour  At  last  the  instrument  commenced 


STARTLING   NEWS  103 

to  click  in  the  telegraph  office,  and  Dick  waited 
anxiously  while  the  man  took  the  message  down. 

"Is  it  for  me?"  he  asked.  And  the  man 
nodded,  as  he  continued  to  write. 

When  the  sheet  was  passed  over  the  operator 
looked  curiously  at  Dick — a  look  that  made  the 
youth's  heart  sink.  With  a  hand  that  trembled 
in  spite  of  his  efforts  to  steady  it,  the  oldest 
Rover  boy  held  up  the  paper  and  read  this: 

"Anderson  Rover  was  at  this  hotel  until  yes- 
terday morning.  His  baggage  is  here.  Bill 
unpaid.  Left  no  word. 

"THOMAS  A.  GARLEY,  Manager." 

"  Gone ! "  murmured  Dick,  brokenly.  "  '  Left 
no  word,'  'Bill  unpaid!'  What  can  it  mean?" 

"Something  unusual,  eh?"  said  the  operator. 
as  he  took  the  bankbill  the  youth  handed  out  to 
him  for  the  message  and  gave  back  the  change. 

"  Very  unusual,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  don't 
know  what  to  make  of  this."  Dick  thought  for 
a  moment.  "  I  suppose  I  can't  get  a  train  home 
before  morning." 

"  No,  the  first  train  for  you  is  the  eight- forty- 
five  to-morrow." 

"  Too  bad !  I  wish  there  was  a  train  right 
away," 


104        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

There  was  no  help  for  it,  and  a  few  minutes 
later  the  youth  left  the  depot,  and  jumping  on 
the  motorcycle,  started  back  for  Brill  Col- 
lege, i 

As  he  rode  along  Dick's  thoughts  were  busy, 
What  had  taken  his  parent  to  New  York  and 
why  had  he  disappeared  so  mysteriously? 

"  He  certainly  must  have  gone  there  on  busi- 
ness— the  business  that  has  been  bothering  him 
so  long,"  he  mused.  "  But  would  that  cause  him 
to  disappear  ?  Maybe  he  had  an  accident,  or  was 
waylaid  for  his  money." 

A  thousand  thoughts  surged  through  poor 
Dick's  brain,  but  he  could  reach  no  definite  con- 
clusion regarding  his  father's  disappearance. 
Yet  he  was  certain  of  one  thing. 

"He  didn't  leave  the  hotel  that  way  of  his 
own  accord,"  he  reasoned.  "  He  would  pay  his 
bill  and  look  after  his  baggage.  It's  for  some 
outside  reason  that  he  didn't  return  to  his  hotel 
and  answer  Uncle  Randolph's  telegram." 

When  Dick  arrived  at  the  college  he  put  the 
motorcycle  away  and  went  directly  to  his  room. 
Sam  and  Tom  were  still  away,  but  he  heard 
them  returning  just  as  he  was  on  the  point  of 
going  after  them.  As  they  came  in,  he  motioned 
for  them  to  close  and  lock  the  door.  Fortu- 
nately, they  had  their  rooms  to  themselves,  Song- 


STARTLING   NEWS  I05 

bird,  their  only  roommate,  having  gone  away  for 
the  night. 

"  What  did  you  learn,  Dick  ? "  asked  both 
..brothers,  quickly. 

"  Not  much — and  still  a  great  deal,"  he  an- 
swered, and  told  them  how  he  had  tried  to  send 
word  home  and  had  then  called  up  the  hotel  in 
the  metropolis. 

"What  do  you  make  of  this?"  asked  Tom, 
after  he  and  Sam  had  read  the  brief  message 
from  the  hotel  manager. 

"  Do  you  think  he  met  with  an  accident  ? " 
questioned  Sam, 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  think." 

"  It  looks  mighty  suspicious  to  me — the  bill 
unpaid  and  baggage  left  behind,"  murmured 
Tom.  Then  of  a  sudden  he  drew  a  sharp  breath. 

"  Oh,  Dick,  do  you  think "  And  then  Tom 

stopped  short. 

"What,  Tom?" 

"  I — I  hate  to  say  it,  but  do  you  think  it's 
possible  that  dad  got — got  a  little  bit  out  of  his 
head — with  that  business  worrying  him?" 

"  It's  possible,  Tom.  Men  have  been  known 
to  get  that  way  from  business  troubles,  and  dad 
was  far  from  well,  we  all  know  that." 

"He  should  have  taken  somebody  to  New 
York  with  him,"  put  in  Sam.  "  But  it's  no  use 


106        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

talking  about  that  now.  The  question  is,  What 
are  we  going  to  do?  I  can't  stay  here  and 
study  when  he  is  missing." 

"  Not  much — I  couldn't  study  a  thing ! " 
cried  Tom. 

"  I  know  what  I  am  going  to  do,"  replied 
Dick.  "  I  am  going  to  take  that  early  train 
home,  and  see  Uncle  Rudolph.  I'll  send  another 
message  to  that  hotel  manager,  too,  and  then, 
unless  we  get  word  that  everything  is  O.  K., 
I'm  going  to  New  York  as  fast  as  I  can  get 
there." 

"And  I'll  go  along!"  cried  each  of  the  two 
brothers. 

"  Yes,  that  might  be  best — for  if  he  is  still 
missing  we  may  have  a  great  task  to  learn  what 
became  of  him.  We'll  have  to  hunt  the  hospi- 
tals, and  the  police  headquarters,  and  the — 

the "  Dick  was  going  to  add  "  morgue," 

but  he  could  not  bring  himself  to  utter  the  word. 
It  was  too  awful  to  think  that  their  father  might 
be  dead. 

"  We'll  have  to  explain  to  Doctor  Wallington, 
of  Professor  Blackie,"  said  Tom. 

"And  send  word  to  the  girls,"  added  Sam. 

"  I  don't  want  to  worry  anybody  more  than 
I  have  to,"  said  Dick.  "This  may  turn  out  all 
right  after  all,"  he  added.  But  he  had  his 


STARTLING   NEWS  107 

doubts.     That  something  unusual  had  happened 
to  his  father  he  was  certain. 

The  boys  spent  some  little  time  in  packing 
their  suitcases  with  such  things  as  they  deemed 
necessary  for  the  trip,  and  then  turned  out  the 
lights  and  went  to  bed.  But  none  of  them  slept 
well.  All  tumbled  and  tossed  on  their  couches, 
trying  in  vain  to  solve  the  mystery  that  sur* 
rounded  the  disappearance  of  their  parent. 
v  They  were  up  an  hour  earlier  than  usual,  and 
it  was  Dick  who  took  the  liberty  to  knock  on 
the  door  of  the  head  of  the  institution. 

"Who  is  it?"  asked  the  worthy  doctor,  and 
the  young  collegian  told  him.  A  moment  later 
the  head  of  the  college  appeared,  wrapped  in  a 
dressing  gown. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  disturb  you,  sir."  said  Dick. 
"  But  something  has  happened  that  has  upset 
me  and  my  brothers  a  great  deal."  And  he 
briefly  related  the  condition  of  affairs,  and  asked 
leave  of  absence  for  himself  and  Tom  and  Sam. 

"  This  is  certainly  alarming,"  said  Doctor 
Wallington,  sympathetically.  "  I  trust  your 
father  is  speedily  found  and  that  nothing  seri- 
ous has  happened  to  him.  Yes,  you  may  go,  and 
remain  as  long  as  is  necessary.  When  he  is 
found,  let  me  know." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  Dick,  and  after  a  few 


IDS        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

words  more  he  hurried  off.  Then  he  and  his 
brothers  got  an  early  breakfast,  and  had  Abner 
Filbury  drive  them  to  the  Ashton  depot.  Only 
a  handful  of  students  saw  them  depart. 

"  Wish  you  success,  boys ! "  cried  Stanley 
after  them. 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  added  Spud.  "  Keep  up  a 
stout  heart.  Maybe  it's  all  right,  after  all. 
There  may  be  some  mistake  somewhere." 


CHAPTER  XI 

AT    THE    FARM 

"OAK  RUN!    All  out  for  Oak  Run!" 

It  was  the  familiar  cry  of  the  brakeman  of 
the  train,  as  the  cars  rolled  into  the  little  station 
at  which  the  Rover  boys  were  to  alight.  The 
ride  from  Ashton  had  been  without  incident. 
They  had  had  to  make  two  changes,  and  had 
fretted  not  a  little  over  a  delay  of  half  an  hour 
at  one  junction  point. 

"  There's  old  Ricks ! "  cried  Sam,  motioning 
to  the  station  master,  who  was  looking  after 
some  baggage.  "  Remember  the  fun  we  had 
with  him  on  our  last  trip  here,  Tom?" 

"  Indeed,  yes,"  was  the  reply,  and  the  fun- 
loving  Rover  grinned  a  little. 

"  No  time  for  fun  now,"  put  in  Dick,  quickly. 
"  We  want  to  get  home  just  as  soon  as  possible." 

From  one  of  the  telegraph  offices  along  the 
line  the  boys  had  sent  word  ahead,  and  at  the 
station  they   found  Jack  Ness,  the  hired  man, 
who  had  brought  the  family  touring  car. 
109 


HO   THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  Glad  to  see  you  back,"  said  the  hired  man, 
touching  his  cap. 

"  Any  news,  Jack  ?  "  asked  the  three,  in  one 
/  voice. 

"You  mean  from  your  father?" 

"  Yes." 

"No,"  and  Jack  Ness  shook  his  head  slowly. 
*'  Not  a  line  for  several  days.  Your  aunt  an' 
uncle  are  worried  'most  to  death." 

The  boys  leaped  into  the  touring  car,  Dick 
taking  the  wheel  and  Sam  getting  in  beside  him. 
Tom  and  the  hired  man  occupied  the  tonneau, 
with  the  baggage.  Away  they  went,  in  a  cloud 
of  dust,  over  the  frail  bridge  that  spanned  the 
river  and  through  the  village  of  Dexter's  Cor- 
ners. Then  they  struck  the  country  road  leading 
to  Valley  Brook  farm,  their  home.  Dick  in- 
creased the  speed  to  thirty  miles  an  hour — all  the 
car  would  stand  on  such  a  highway. 

"  Say,  we'll  have  an  accident !  "  cried  Jack 
Ness,  in  alarm.  "  It  ain't  safe  to  run  so  fast, 
nohow ! " 

"  Sit  still,  Jack ;  Dick  knows  what  he  is  do- 
ing," commanded  Tom.  "  We  want  to  get  home 
just  as  soon  as  we  can." 

"  Well,  I  don't  blame  ye  fer  wantin'  to  git 
home, — but  I  don't  want  to  git  kilt !  "  murmured 
the  man  of  all  work. 


AT   THE   FARM  III 

Farm  after  farm  was  passed  and  also  a  patch 
of  timber  land.  Then  they  swept  around  a  turn 
and  came  in  sight  of  Valley  Brook,  with  its 
broad  fields  and  its  gurgling  brook  flowing  down 
to  Swift  River. 

"  There's  Aleck ! "  shouted  Sam,  pointing  to 
a  colored  man  who  was  standing  at  the  entrance 
to  a  lane.  He  waved  his  hand  and  Alexander 
Pop,  one  of  the  servants,  and  a  man  who  had 
made  many  trips  with  the  Rovers,  took  off  his 
hat  and  waved  in  return. 

As  he  swung  up  to  the  broad  piazza  of  the 
house,  Dick  honked  the  automobile  horn.  At 
once  the  door  flew  open  and  Mrs.  Rover  ran 
out,  followed  by  her  husband. 

"  Oh,  boys !  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you !  "  cried 
Mrs.  Rover. 

"  How  are  you,  Aunt  Martha !  "  returned  Sam, 
leaping  out  and  kissing  her,  an  example  speedily 
followed  by  his  brothers. 

"  Very  glad  you  came,"  said  Randolph  Rover, 
a  tall,  thin,  and  studious-looking  man,  wearing 
big  spectacles.  He  shook  hands  all  around. 
"  Come  right  into  the  house." 

"You  haven't  any  word  from  dad?"  ques-' 
tioned  Sam. 

"  Nothing,  boys — and  I  do  not  know  what  to 
make  of  it." 


112 

"It  is  a  fearful  state  of  affairs,"  burst  out 
Mrs.  Rover,  and  tears  stood  in  her  motherly 
eyes.  "  We  cannot  imagine  what  has  happened 
to  your  father." 

"  I  sent  another  telegram  to  that  hotel,"  said 
Dick.  "  I  asked  the  manager  to  send  his  reply 
here." 

It  was  a  rather  sad  home-coming,  and  even 
Tom  felt  much  depressed  in  spirits.  All  filed 
into  the  house  and  to  the  sitting-room,  leaving 
Jack  Ness  and  Aleck  Pop  to  look  after  the  auto- 
mobile and  the  baggage. 

"  We  ought  to  get  a  message  from  New  York 
soon,"  remarked  Dick,  after  his  uncle  had  re- 
lated the  little  he  had  to  tell  about  how  Ander- 
son Rover  had  gone  away  on  the  trip  to  the 
metropolis.  Evidently  Randolph  Rover  knew  lit- 
tle about  the  business  that  had  taken  his  brother 
to  the  city.  He  was  no  business  man  himself — 
being  wrapped  up  in  what  he  called  scientific 
farming — and  probably  the  boys'  father  had  not 
thought  it  worth  while  to  take  him  into  his  con- 
fidence. 

Dinner  was  on  the  table,  and  the  boys  went 
to  the  dining-room  to  eat.  But  nobody  had  any 
appetite,  and  the  fine  repast  prepared  by  the 
cook  under  Mrs.  Rover's  directions,  was  much 
of  a  failure.  Once  the  telephone  rang  and  the 


AT   THE   FARM 

boys  rushed  to  it.  But  the  call  was  only  a  local 
one,  of  little  consequence. 

"I  think  the  best  thing  I  can  do  will  be  to 
go  over  dad's  private  papers,"  said  Dick,  pres- 
ently. "  They  may  give  me  a  clew  of  where  to 
look  for  him  in  New  York." 

"That's  the  talk!"  cried  Tom.  "Come  on, 
let's  get  busy."  He  hated  to  sit  still  at  any  time, 
and  just  at  present  inactivity  was  doubly  irk- 
some. 

During  the  past  year  a  room  had  been  added 
to  the  house  and  this  was  used  as  a  library  and 
sort  of  office  combined,  being  provided  with  a 
substantial  safe  and  two  roller-top  desks.  One 
of  the  desks  was  used  exclusively  by  Anderson 
Rover  for  his  private  letters  and  papers.  When 
sick  the  man  had  given  Dick  the  extra  key  to 
the  desk,  telling  him  to  keep  it.  The  father 
trusted  his  three  sons  implicitly,  only  keeping 
to  himself  such  business  affairs  as  he  thought 
would  not  interest  them. 

The  boys  sat  down  and,  led  by  Dick,  began 
a  careful  inspection  of  the  many  letters  and 
documents  which  the  roller-top  desk  contained. 
A  large  number  of  the  papers  and  letters  they 
knew  had  no  bearing  on  the  affair  now  in  hand. 
But  presently  Dick  took  up  some  letters  of  re- 
cent date  and  scanned  them  with  interest 


'1I4       THE  KQVER  BOYS  IN  NEW 

"  I  guess  this  is  what  we  are  after ! "  he  cried. 
"  I  was  afraid  it  might  be  that." 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  asked  his  brothers. 

"  That  old  irrigation  scheme— the  one  run  by 
Peker,  Japson  &  Company,  of  Wall  Street,  New 
York." 

"  Why,  I  thought  dad  had  dropped  that,"  said 
Sam,  in  surprise. 

"  He  tried  to.  But  they  held  him  to  some 
agreement — I  don't  know  exactly  what.  They 
wanted  to  get  more  money  out  of  him — if  they 
could." 

"  And  you  think  he  went  to  New  York  on  that 
account,  Dick  ?  "  asked  Tom. 

"It  looks  so  to  me." 

"  But  that  doesn't  account  for  his  disappear- 
ance." 

"Perhaps  it  does." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Those  fellows  may  be  holding  him  &.  pris- 
oner, or  they  may  even  have  put  him  out  of  the 
way  altogether — although  I  doubt  if  they  are  as 
bad  as  all  that." 

"  Some  men  would  do  anything  for  money," 
'grumbled  Sam.  "But  what  good  would  it  do 
to  hold  him  a  prisoner?  " 

"  They  may  want  to  force  him  to  sign  some 


AT    THE   FARM  Il5 

papers,  or  give  up  some  papers  he  Is  holding, 
Sam.  One  thing  is  certain,  they  were  very  anx- 
ious to  see  him — these  letters  show  that." 

"Hadn't  we  better  telegraph  to  them  and  see 
what  they  have  to  say  ?  "  suggested  Tom. 

"  Perhaps,  Tom — but,  somehow,  I  don't  think 
that  would  be  a  wise  move  to  make.  Father 
did  not  trust  them.  He  said  they  were  sharpers. 
If  we  sent  them  any  word  it  might  put  them 
more  on  guard  than  they  would  otherwise  be. 
I  think  the  best  thing  to  do  is  to  go  to  New 
York  and  interview  them  personally — if  we 
don't  get  word  from  dad  before  we  leave." 

"  I  think "  commenced  Tom,  and  just 

then  the  telephone  bell  rang  and  all  rushed 
to  it.  Dick  took  up  the  receiver. 

"Is  this  the  Rovers'  house?"  asked  a  voice 
over  the  wire. 

"  Yes." 

"  I  have  a  telegraph  message  for  Richard 
Rover." 

"All    right,    Mr.    Barnes,"    answered    Dick. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "    He  had  recognized  the  voice  of 
i 
Hhe  telegraph  operator  at  Oak  Run. 

"Oh,  it's  you,  is  it,  Mr.  Rover?"  returned 
the  operator.  "  This  is  from  New  York  City, 
and  is  signed,  '  Thomas  A.  Gariey.' ' 


u6   THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  Yes,  yes !  Read  the  message ! "  cried  Dick, 
and  all  three  boys  listened  closely  while  Dick 
held  the  receiver. 

"  He  says :  '  No  news  of  Anderson  Rover. 
Better  come  on  and  investigate.' ' 

"Is  that  all?" 

"  Yes."  And  the  operator  repeated  the 
mes-sage.  "I'll  mail  the  sheet  to  you,"  he 
added. 

"  All  right,  much  obliged."  Dick  turned  to 
his  brothers.  "  Shall  I  send  wrord  back  that  we 
are  coming?"  he  questioned. 

"  Yes." 

"  Take  this  message  down,  Mr.  Barnes,"  went 
on  Dick,  and  dictated  what  he  wished  to  say. 
"  I'll  settle  next  time  I  see  you,"  he  added,  and 
hung  up  the  receiver. 

The  uncle  and  the  aunt  of  the  boys  wished  to 
know  the  news,  if  such  it  can  be  called,  and  the 
lads  told  them.  At  once  Mrs.  Rover  burst  into 
tears. 

"I  am  sure  something  has  befallen  Ander- 
son ! "  she  sobbed.  "  Oh,  what  shall  we  .do, 
Randolph?" 

"  I — I  think  I  had  better  go  to  New  York 
and — er — make  some — er — inquiries,"  answered 
her  husband,  somewhat  helplessly,  for  a  visit  t© 
the  teeming  metropolis  always  appalled  him. 


AT    THE    FARM 


II? 


"  No,  you  stay  here,  and  wait  for  some  word, 
Uncle  Randolph,"  said  Dick.  "  Sam  and  Tom 
and  I  are  going  to  New  York." 

"Oh,  boys!"  cried  Mrs.  Rover.  "Going 
{alone  ?  " 

"  Why  not,  Aunt  Martha?  "  asked  Sam.  "  We 
are  not  afraid." 

"  I  know  that.  But  this  is — er — no  ordinary 
trip.  You  may  get  into  trouble,  and " 

"If  we  do,  we'll  get  out  of  it  again,"  put  in 
Tom,  grimly. 

"  Oh,  if  only  we  knew  what  had  become  of 
your  dear  father ! "  and  the  lady's  eyes  filled 
again  with  tears,  while  Uncle  Randolph  looked 
deeply  sympathetic. 

"  I  think  we  had  better  start  at  once,"  went 
on  Dick.  "  We  can  get  the  five-thirty  train 
down." 

"  What,  to-night ! "  exclaimed  the  aunt. 
"  Why,  that  will  get  you  to  New  York  at  mid- 
night!" 

"Just  about,"  said  Tom. 

"  You  had  better  start  in  the  morning.  What 
will  you  do  at  midnight  in  a  big  city  like  New 
'York!" 

"We'll  go  direct  to  the  Outlook  Hotel,"  an- 
swered Dick.  "  And  then,  if  we  can't  find  out 
anything  about  father,  we  can  go  down  to  the 


Il8        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

offices    of    Pelter,   Japson   &   Company   in    the 
morning." 

"And  if  you  don't  find  out  anything  there?" 
asked  Randolph  Rover,  timidly. 

"  Then  we'll  go  to  the  police,  and  maybe  get, 
a  detective  or  two  on  the  case,"  returned  Dick. 
"  And  we'll  have  to  look  up  the  hospitals — ia 
case  he  met  with  an  accident.  But  I  don't  think 
he  has  met  with  any  accident,"  he  continued 
hastily,  for  he  saw  how  alarmed  his  aunt  was 
becoming.  "  For  if  he  had  an  accident,  the  au- 
thorities would  find  out,  from  the  things  in  his 
pockets,  who  he  was,  and  notify  us,  or  the 
hotel." 

Mrs.  Rover  heaved  a  deep  sigh,  and  her  hus- 
band shook  his  head  slowly.  Dick  closed  the 
desk  again  and  locked  it,  and  then  the  three 
boys  hurried  to  their  rooms,  to  prepare  for  the 
trip  to  the  metropolis. 

"  Say,  I  dun  heah  dat  you  am  gwine  to  New 
York,"  came  a  voice  from  the  entrance  to  Dick's 
bedroom,  and  looking  up  from  the  suitcase  he 
was  packing,  the  oldest  Rover  boy  saw  Aleck 
Pop  standing  there,  an  anxious  look  on  his 
ebony  face. 

'  Yes,  Aleck,  we  are  going  to  take  the  five- 
thirty  train.  You  can  tell  Jack  to  get  the  car 
ready." 


AT    THE    FARM 


119 


"Want  me  to  go  along?"  asked  the  colored 
man,  wistfully. 

"  No,  Aleck,  not  this  trip.  You  stay  here  and 
do  what  you  can  for  my  aunt  and  uncle." 

"  Yo'  father  am  missing,  ain't  he  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  It's  too  bad.  Hope  you  find  him,  Dick,  I 
do,  indeed!  I'll  tell  Jack  about  dat  auto."  And 
Aleck  Pop  went  off,  shaking  his  head  in  sorrow. 
He  loved  all  of  the  Rovers,  and  their  troubles 
were  hi*  owm. 


CHAPTER   XII 

OFF    FOR    NEW    YORK 

"  BOYS,  you  must  take  care  and  not  get  into 
trouble." 

"  And  as  soon  as  you  have  word  of  your 
father  let  us  know." 

Thus  spoke  Aunt  Martha  and  Uncle  Ran- 
dolph, as  the  three  Rover  boys  stood  ready  to 
say  good-bye.  The  automobile  was  already  at 
the  door  and  their  suitcases  were  in  the  ton- 
neau. 

"  We'll  take  care  of  ourselves,"  said  Dick. 
"And  as  soon  as  we  get  any  word  we'll  let  you 
know.  And  remember,  Uncle  Randolph,  if  any 
word  comes  to  the  farm  you  are  to  forward  it 
at  once  to  the  Outlook  Hotel." 

"  Yes,  I'll  remember  that,"  answered  the 
uncle. 

The  boys  kissed  their  aunt,  who  shed  silent 
tears  at  their  departure.  To  Aunt  Martha  the 
great  metropolis  was  a  wonderful  as  well  as 
dangerous  place. 

"  Good-bye !  "  cried  Tom,  and  was  the  first  to 

120 


OFF  FOR   NEW    YORK 


121 


climb  into  the  automobile,  getting  into  the 
driver's  seat.  Jack  Ness  was  to  go  with  them 
as  far  as  Oak  Run,  to  bring  the  touring  car 
back. 

The  other  lads  climbed  in,  and  all  those  left 
at  the  farm  waved  them  an  adieu.  Then  Tom 
threw  in  the  clutch,  and  off  they  sped,  down  the 
lane  to  the  main  road.  Soon  a  cloud  of  dust 
hid  them  from  view. 

"  It's  awful,  Randolph ! "  murmured  Mrs. 
Rover  to  her  husband.  "  New  York  is  such  a 
busy  place — and  there  are  so  many  wicked 
people  in  it !  " 

"The  boys  know  how  to  take  care  of  them- 
selves," answered  Randolph  Rover.  "  Why, 
they  even  took  care  of  themselves  when  they 
were  cast  away  on  that  island  in  the  Pacific 
Ocean,"  he  added,  referring  to  happenings  which 
I  have  related  in  detail  in  the  volume  entitled 
"  The  Rover  Boys  on  Land  and  Sea." 

"  True — but — but  I  am  nervous  about  this 
trip.  And  then,  what  can  have  happened  to 
Anderson  ?  " 

"That  I  don't  know.  Maybe  a  street  car  or 
an  automobile  ran  over  him.  They  have  such 
accidents  in  New  York  every  day,  so  I've  been 
told." 

"  I  know  it !    Oh,  it  is  terrible,  this  suspense !  " 


122        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

And  Mrs.   Rover  walked  away,  the  tears   still 
coursing  down  her  cheeks. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  touring  car  was  making 
good  time  along  the  road  to  Oak  Run.  At  Dex- 
ter's  Corners  they  stopped  at  the  post-office  foi 
letters.  There  were  three — one  for  each  boy, 
but  not  one  was  postmarked  New  York.  They 
were  from  the  girls  at  Brill. 

"  Glad  to  hear  from  the  girls,"  said  Sam. 
"But,  just  the  same,  this  time  I'd  rather  get 
word  from  New  York." 

"  So  would  I,"  added  Dick. 

"  Ditto  here,"  echoed  Tom,  with  a  long-drawn 
sigh. 

Without  waiting  to  read  the  communications, 
the  lads  kept  on  to  the  Oak  Run  depot.  They 
could  hear  the  train  coming  through  the  hills 
and  presently  it  glided  into  sight  and  up  to  the 
station. 

"  Good  luck  to  ye ! "  shouted  Jack  Ness,  as 
they  boarded  one  of  the  cars.  And  then  he 
turned  back  towards  the  farm  with  the  touring 
car. 

The  train  was  not  more  than  half  filled,  sc 
the  three  youths  had  but  little  difficulty  in  get- 
ting seats.  They  turned  one  of  the  seats  over, 
so  that  they  might  face  each  other,  and  put  their 
suitcases  in  the  racks  overhead. 


OFF   FOR   NEW    YORK 


123 


"  Guess  we  might  as  well  read  our  letters," 
Dick,  as  soon  as  they  were  settled.  He  was 
anxious  to  learn  what  Dora  had  written.  He 
had  asked  her  to  write  to  her  mother  concerning' 
their  proposed  marriage. 

"  Just  what  I  say,"  added  Tom,  and  soon  he 
and  Sam  had  settled  back,  following  their  big 
brother's  example. 

The  communication  from  Dora  was  quite  long 
and  Dick  enjoyed  it  so  thoroughly  that  he  read 
it  twice  before  stowing  it  away  in  his  breast 
pocket.  The  girl  stated  that  her  mother  had  left 
everything  to  her  own  judgment  and  that  she, 
in  turn,  was  willing  to  leave  everything  to  Dick. 

"  Dear,  dear  Dora !  "  he  mused.  "  The  sweet- 
est girl  in  all  the  world!  I  only  hope  I  prove 
•worthy  of  her !  "  And  then  he  sat  back  and 
pictured  to  himself  the  happy  home  they  would 
establish  as  soon  as  everything  could  be  ar- 
ranged. Had  it  not  been  for  the  cloud  concern- 
ing his  father,  Dick  would  have  been  the  hap- 
piest youth  in  the  world. 

"  Well,  they  are  not  doing  much  at  Hope," 
remarked  Sam.     "  Society  meetings,  fudge  par- ' 
ties,  and  grinding  away  at  themes/' 

"Just  what  Nellie  writes,"  answered  Tom. 
"  Well,  you  can't  expect  much  fun  when  you  are 
trying  to  get  an  education !  "  And  he  sighed,  as 


124        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

he  thought  of  what  was  before  him  at  Brill.  In 
a  way,  he  envied  Dick  his  opportunity  to  break 
away  and  get  out  into  the  business  world. 

It  had  been  too  early  to  get  supper  oefore 
leaving  home — although  their  aunt  had  offered  it 
— so  about  seven  o'clock  the  lads  went  into  the 
dining  car  attached  to  the  train.  They  found  a 
table  for  four  vacant  and  took  possession,  and 
presently  ordered  what  they  wanted. 

"  Hello !  look  there ! "  exclaimed  Tom,  in  a 
low  voice,  after  looking  around  the  dining  car, 
and  he  pointed  to  a  man  at  one  of  the  tables 
for  two. 

"  It's  that  lawyer  who  settled  for  the  smashed 
biplane,"  returned  Sam.  "  Must  be  going  to 
New  York,  too." 

"  Most  likely  his  profession  takes  him  to  the 
city  quite  often,"  remarked  Dick. 

"  Wonder  if  he'll  speak  to  us  if  he  sees  us," 
ventured  Sam. 

"I  don't  know  and  I  don't  care,"  came  from 
his  big  brother.  "  I  didn't  like  him  at  all — ho 
was  too  crafty-like." 

Their  food  served,  the  boys  fell  to  eating  with 
that  gusto  that  characterizes  youths  who  are  still 
growing.  They  had  about  half  finished  when 
Dick  felt  himself  touched  on  the  arm.  At  hi* 
side  stood  Belright  Fogg. 


OFF    FOR    NEW    YORK  I25' 

"  Taking  a  little  trip,  eh  ?  "  remarked  the  rail- 
road lawyer,  with  a  bland  smile. 

"Yes,"  answered  Dick,  shortly. 

"To  New  York,  I  suppose?" 

"Yes." 

"  Well,  you  got  settled  about  that  flying  ma- 
chine, didn't  you?"  went  on  the  lawyer,  and 
dropped  into  the  vacant  seat  opposite  Dick,  on 
the  side  where  Tom  sat. 

"  We  did — but  we  had  some  trouble,"  replied 
Tom. 

"  That  was  a  mistake — to  *remove  the  ma- 
chine," said  Belright  Fogg.  He  gazed  at  the 
boys  a  moment.  "  I  understand  you  sold  the 
wreck  for  quite  a  price,"  he  continued. 

"  We  didn't  get  as  much  as  we  wanted,"  said 
Sam.  "We  are  still  quite  something  out  of 
pocket." 

"  But  not  as  much  as  the  railroad  company ! " 
The  lawyer  gave  a  brief  chuckle,  which  surprised 
the  lads.  "Oh,  it's  all  right,  so  far  as  I  am 
concerned,"  he  continued.  "  Maybe  you'd  be  in- 
terested to  know  that  I  no  longer  represent  that 
road." 

"You  don't?"  and  now  Dick  was  interested. 

"  No,  I  handed  in  my  resignation  three  days 
ago,"  answered  Belright  Fogg.  He  did  not  add 
that  he  had  been  asked  to  resign  by  the  head 


126        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

of  the  railroad  company,  because  of  irregular- 
ities  in  his  accounts  and  because  of  several  pro- 
fessional shortcomings. 

"  Going  to  give  up  law  ?  "  asked  Tom,  f ot 
the  want  of  something  better  to  say. 

"  Not  at  all,  my  boy.  I  am  going  down  to 
the  city  to  practice  my  profession.  There  is  a 
much  larger  field  for  my  abilities  down  there 
than  up  here,"  Belright  Fogg  answered,  loftily. 

"  Yes,  New  York  is  pretty  large,"  responded 
Tom,  dryly. 

"  I  expect  to  open  my  offices  in  a  few  days," 
went  on  the  lawyer.  "If  you  ever  have  any 
business  down  there,  come  in  and  see  me.  I 
will  mail  you  one  of  my  cards,"  and  with  an- 
other bland  smile,  and  a  bow,  he  passed  out  of 
the  dining  car. 

"  Oh,  my,  but  we  are  some  pumpkins !  "  mur- 
mured Tom,  "  First  thing  you  know  he'll  be 
putting  all  the  other  lawyers  in  New  York  out 
of  business." 

"  I  shouldn't  "want  him  for  /a  lawyer,"  Re- 
marked Sam,  "  He  doesn't  impress  me  very 
favorably." 

"Handed  in  his  resignation,  eh?"  mused 
Dick.  "More  than  likely  he  had  to  do  it. 
No,  I  shouldn't  want  anything  to  do  with 
him." 


OFF   FOR   NEW    YORK 


127 


The  boys  finished  their  meal,  and  after  pay- 
ing the  bill,  returned  to  their  former  seats.  They 
looked  around  for  Belright  Fogg,  but  he  was  evi- 
dently in  some  other  car  of  the  train. 

It  was  dark,  so  they  could  see  little  of  the 
country  through  which  they  were  passing.  At 
one  station  at  which  they  stopped,  a  newsboy 
came  through  the  train,  crying  his  wares,  and 
Dick  purchased  several  metropolitan  evening 
papers  and  handed  them  around. 

"  Nothing  but  politics,  a  murder,  a  big  auto 
race,  and  a  new  war  in  Central  America,"  re- 
marked Tom,  thumbing  over  his  paper.  "  How 
tired  the  reporters  must  get  of  writing  about  the 
same  kind  of  things  every  day/' 

"  They  must  have  exciting  times  getting  the 
news,  sometimes,"  returned  Sam. 

"  Here's  an  advertisement  that  will  interest 
you,"  remarked  Dick,  and  he  pointed  to  the  bot- 
tom of  a  page.  "  Pelter,  Japson  &  Company 
advertise  themselves  as  brokers  and  dealers  in 
high-class  Western  securities,  and  they  offer 
stock  in  that  Sunset  Irrigation  Company.  That's 
the  company  dad  was  interested  in." 

All  of  the  boys  read  the  advertisement  care- 
fully, but  it  added  nothing  to  their  stock  of 
knowledge.  Then  they  looked  the  newspapers 
over  some  more,  and  finally  threw  them  away. 


128 

"  Wish  we  were  in  New  York,"  sighed  Sam. 
He  was  growing  tired,  having  been  on  the  go 
since  early  morning. 

"  We'll  be  there  inside  of  half  an  hour,"  re- 
turned Dick,  after  consulting  his  watch. 

Presently  the  long  train  rolled  into  the  city 
and  came  to  a  stop  at  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fifth  Street.  Then  they  rolled  on  and 
on,  through  the  city,  past  block  after  block  of 
apartment  houses,  stores  and  offices,  and  private 
dwellings. 

"  Talk  about  a  bee  hive ! "  murmured  Tom. 
"  You  cant'  beat  New  York  City,  no  matter 
where  you  go !  " 

"Well,  Chicago  is  a  close  second,"  answered 
Dick. 

"  And  St.  Louis  and  Philadelphia,  and  some 
other  cities,"  put  in  Sam.  "  Ours  is  a  big  coun- 
try and  no  mistake." 

The  passengers  were  already  getting  their  be- 
longings together,  and  in  the  parlor  cars  the 
porters  were  brushing  off  the  people  and,  inci- 
dentally, pocketing  various  tips.  Then  the  train 
rolled  into  the  Grand  Central  Depot,  now  called 
the  Grand  Central  Terminal. 

"  Last  stop ! "  was  the  cry,  and  the  boys  piled 
out,  each  with  his  suitcase.  The  sleepy  crowd 
moved  along  the  long  platform,  in  the  glare  of 


OFF  FOR   NEW    YORK  i2$ 

the  electric  lights,  and  through  the  depot  into 
the  busy  street. 

"  Cab !  "  "  Taxi !  "  "  Carry  your  baggage !  " 
Such  were  some  of  the  cries  which  greeted  the 
boys'  ears  as  they  emerged  on  Forty-second 
Street.  The  clang  of  the  street  car  gongs  added 
to  the  din,  and  newsboys  were  everywhere,  cry- 
ing the  latest  editions  of  the  afternoon  papers. 

"  I'll  get  a  taxi  to  take  us  down  to  the  hotel," 
said  Dick,  and  soon  the  brothers  were  in  a  taxi- 
cab,  with  the  suitcases  in  front,  next  to  the 
driver.  "  Outlook  Hotel,"  he  ordered,  and  away 
they  moved,  out  of  the  maze  of  vehicles,  for 
certain  thoroughfares  of  the  metropolis  are 
crowded  nearly  every  hour  out  of  the  twenty- 
four. 

"  Somebody  told  me  that  New  York  never 
sleeps,  and  I  guess  that  is  true,"  remarked  Sam. 
"  It  is  half-past  twelve  and  look  at  the  people!  " 

The  taxicab  turned  over  into  Fifth  Avenue 
and  sped  down  that  noted  thoroughfare  for 
about  ten  blocks.  Then  it  made  another  turn 
westward  and  reached  Broadway,  and  almost 
before  they  knew  it,  the  boys  were  at  the  main 
entrance  to  the  Outlook  Hotel. 

Leaving  the  driver  to  turn  the  baggage  over 
to  the  hotel  porters,  Dick  paid  the  fellow  and 
hurrkd  into  the  building,  with  Tom  and  Sam  at 


his  heels.  They  found  the  night  clerk  and  his 
assistant  at  the  desk. 

"  I  am  Richard  Rover,"  said  Dick,  to  the  head 
clerk. 

"  Oh,  yes,  Mr.  Rover,"  was  the  answer.  "  I 
am  glad  you  have  come." 

"Have  you  any  word  about  my  father?" 
(went  on  Dick,  quickly. 

"  Nothing,  Mr.  Rover.  We  have  made  all 
sorts  of  inquiries,  but  we  haven't  learned  a  sin- 
gle thing,  excepting  that  he  walked  out  of  this 
hotel  alone  and  didn't  come  back." 


CHAPTER   XIII 

AT    THE    OUTLOOK    HOTEIi 

THE  news  had  not  been  totally  unexpected,  yet 
tke  three  lads  felt  very  much  depressed.  They 
had  hoped  that  some  sort  of  word  might  have 
been  received  concerning  their  father  while  they 
were  speeding  towards  New  York  on  the  train. 

"I  wish  you  would  give  me  all  the  particu- 
lars," went  on  Dick. 

"Here  comes  the  manager, — he  can  tell  you 
more  than  I  can/'  replied  the  clerk,  and  he  nod- 
ded in  the  direction  of  a  tall,  heavy-set  individ- 
ual who  was  approaching. 

"  So  you  are  Mr.  Rover's  sons,  eh?  "  said  Mr. 
Garley,  as  he  shook  hands.  "  I  am  sorry  for 
you,  indeed  I  am.  This  is  certainly  a  puzzle. 
Come  in  here  and  I  will  tell  you  all  I  know," 
and  he  led  the  way  to  a  small  reception  parlor 
that  was,  just  then,  unoccupied.  He  drew  two 
ehairs  tip  to  a  small  sofa,  so  that  all  might  sit 
close  together. 

"  I  don't  suppose  any  word  came  from  the 
131 


132        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

farm  for  us  ?  "  suggested  Sam,  as  he  was  about 
to  sit  down. 

"  If  anything  came  in  the  name  of  Rover  I'd 
know  about  it,"  returned  the  hotel  manager.  "  I 
am  very  much  interested  in  this  case." 

"  Have  you  spoken  to  the  police  about  it  ?  'r 
asked  Tom. 

"  Not  yet.  I  thought  that  perhaps  you  would 
not  like  it.  Sometimes,  you  know,  men  go  away 
and  leave  no  word,  and,  later  on,  they  come  back, 
and  they  don't  want  anything  said  about  it.  So 
we  have  to  be  careful." 

"  What  have  you  got  to  tell  us  ?  "  asked  Dick. 

"  It  isn't  very  much.  In  the  first  place,  though, 
I  don't  think  your  father  was  in  the  best  of 
health.  I  noticed  that,  and  so  did  one  of  my 
clerks  and  one  of  the  elevator  men." 

"  Did  he  have  an  attack  while  he  was  here  ?  " 
cried  Sam. 

"  I  don't  know  about  that.  But  we  all  noticed 
that  he  was  feeble  at  times — and  that  he  seemed 
to  be  very  much  worried  over  something.  He 
was  continually  getting  his  notebook  out  and 
doing  some  writing  or  figuring,  and  then  he 
would  shake  his  head,  as  if  it  didn't  please  him 
at  all." 

"  Yes,  he  was  worried  over  some  business 
matters,"  answered  Dick.  "  But  that  wasn't  bad 


AT    THE    OUTLOOK   HOTEL 


133 


enough  to  make  him  go  off  like  this  and  leave 
no  word.  When  was  he  last  seen  ?  " 

"  In  the  morning,  about  ten  o'clock.  He  came 
down  in  one  of  the  elevators  with  a  small  pack- 
age in  his  hand — a  package,  so  the  elevator  man 
said,  that  looked  like  some  legal  documents.  He 
seemed  to  be  very  much  disturbed,  and  the  man 
said  he  talked  to  himself.  He  hurried  out  of  the 
side  door  of  the  hotel,  but  one  of  the  doormen 
saw  him  go  to  the  corner  and  turn  down  Broad- 
way— and  that  was  the  last  seen  of  him,  so  far 
as  we  know." 

"  And  what  of  the  things  in  his  room?  "  ques- 
tioned Dick. 

"  Outside  of  the  usual  cleaning  up,  I  have  had 
everything  left  as  it  was."  answered  the  hotel 
manager.  "  You  may  go  up  there,  if  you  wish." 

"  We  will, — and  we'll  most  likely  want  rooms, 
too." 

"  The  room  next  to  his  is  vacant,  you  can  have 
that  if  you  wish." 

"  All  right,  we'll  take  it,"  returned  Tom.  "  Do 
they  connect?  " 

"  Yes.  I'll  have  the  hallman  unlock  the  con- 
Becting  door  for  you." 

They  were  soon  in  an  elevator,  a  boy  bringing 
up  their  baggage.  They  passed  to  the  fourth 
floor  of  the  hotel  and  to  the  rear. 


134 

"  Your  father  wanted  a  quiet  room,  so  we  put 
him  on  the  court,"  explained  the  manager  of  the 
Outlook  Hotel,  as  he  unlocked  the  door  and 
turned  on  the  electric  lights. 

It  was  a  typical  hotel  room  of  the  better  class,^ 
with  a  brass  bed,  a  bureau,  a  desk,  and  several' 
chairs.  At  one  side  was  a  small  bathroom. 

On  a  chair  rested  Mr.  Rover's  suitcase,  locked 
but  unstrapped.  On  the  bureau  were  his  comb 
and  brush,  a  whisk  broom,  and  some  other  toilet 
articles.  On  some  hooks  hung  a  coat  and  a  cap. 
They  glanced  into  the  bathroom,  and  in  a  cup 
on  the  marble  washstand  saw  his  toothbrush. 

"  He  certainly  meant  to  come  "back,"  mur- 
mured Tom. 

"  Yes,  and  that  very  soon — or  else  he  wouldn't 
have  left  these  things  lying  around,"  added  his 
younger  brother. 

Dick  passed  over  to  the  coat  that  hung  on  a 
hook  and  felt  in  the  pockets.  They  contained 
nothing  but  some  railroad  timetables. 

"  Can't  you  call  up  some  of  your  father's  busi- 
ness friends  or  acquaintances? "  suggested  the- 
hotel  manager. 

"  He  had  very  few  acquaintances  in  the  city," 
answered  Dick.  "  He  used  to  have  some  close 
friends,  but  they  are  either  dead  or  have  moved 
away.  As  for  the  business  men  he  had  dealings 


AT   THE   OUTLOOK  HOTEL  j35 

with — I  guess  I  had  better  see  them  in  the  morn- 
ing." 

"  Then,  if  there  isn't  anything  more  I  can  do, 
I'll  leave  you,"  returned  the  hotel  manager. 

"  Nothing  more  at  present,"  answered  Dick. 

With  the  hotel  manager  gone,  the  boys  closed 
the  door  leading  to  the  hallway  and  sat  down  to 
discuss  the  situation.  The  door  between  the  two 
bedrooms  had  already  been  opened  by  a  hallman, 
so  that  they  would  have  ample  sleeping  accom- 
modations when  they  wished  to  retire.  But  just 
now  they  were  too  excited  and  worried  to  think 
of  sleeping. 

"  Maybe  we  had  better  put  the  police  at  work," 
suggested  Sam. 

"We  surely  ought  to  do  something,"  added 
Tom. 

"  What  can  the  police  do — with  no  clews  to 
work  on?"  asked  their  big  brother. 

"  They  might  look  around  in  the  hospitals  for 
him." 

"  I  don't  think  we'll  find  him  in  any  hospital." 

"Why  not,  if  he  met  with  an  accident?" 

"  I  don't  believe  there  was  any  accident,"  con- 
tinued Dick,  earnestly. 

"Do  you  think  he  met  with  foul  play  at  the 
hands  of  those  men  he  came  to  see?  "  demanded 
Sam. 


136        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  It  looks  that  way  to  me,  Sam." 

"  Then  we  ought  to  have  them  locked  up  at 
once ! " 

"  How  can  we — when  we  have  no  evidence 
against  them  ?  " 

"Let  us  look  into  dad's  suitcase,"  suggested 
Tom. 

"  I'll  see  if  I  can  unlock  it." 

Dick  had  a  bunch  of  keys  in  his  pocket,  as  did 
Tom  and  Sam,  and  the  boys  tried  the  keys  one 
after  another.  At  last  they  found  one  which 
fitted,  and  the  suitcase  came  open. 

The  bag  contained  the  usual  assortment  of 
wearing  apparel  which  Mr.  Rover  was  in  the 
habit  of  carrying  when  on  a  trip  that  was  to 
last  but  a  few  days  or  a  week.  In  addition, 
there  were  several  letters  and  documents,  placed 
in  a  thick  manila  envelope  and  marked  with  the 
owner's  name. 

The  boys  read  the  letters  and  documents  with 
interest.  From  them  they  learned  that  Mr. 
Rover  had  been  requested  to  come  to  the  city 
immediately,  to  see  about  some  business  con- 
nected with  the  Sunset  Irrigation  Company. 
The  documents  were  some  transfers  of  stock 
which  they  did  not  quite  understand. 

"  He  came  down  here  to  see  Pelter,  Japson 
&  Company,  that's  certain,"  remarked  Dick.  "  It 


AT   THE   OUTLOOK   HOTEL  137 

\vas  evidently  the  only  reason  why  he  came  to 
New  York.  Now  the  question  is,  Did  he  go  and 
see  those  men,  and  did  they  waylay  him,  or  did 
they  hire  somebody  to  do  it?" 

"  I  wish  we  knew  more  about  those  men,"  said 
Tom.  "  You  can  soon  size  a  fellow  up  when  you 
talk  to  him." 

"  Not  always,"  answered  Sam.  "  Sometimes 
the  smoothest  talkers  are  the  greatest  rascals. 
Don't  you  remember  how  nicely  Josiah  Crab- 
tree  used  to  talk  to  Mrs.  Stanhope,  and  see  what 
a  rascal  he  turned  out  to  be ! " 

"  I  wonder  if  they  have  captured  him  yet," 
mused  Tom. 

"  Never  mind  Crabtree  now,"  put  in  Dick. 
"  What  we  want  to  do  is  to  find  father.  I  don't 
know  exactly  how  we  are  going  at  it,  but  I  think 
I'll  have  some  sort  of  plan  by  morning." 

"  We  can  go  down  to  Pelter,  Japson  &  Com- 
pany and  make  them  tell  what  they  know,"  said 
Sam. 

"  They'll  tell  what  they  feel  like  telling,  Sam, 
' — and  that  might  not  do  us  any  good.  Mind 
you,  I  don't  say  they  did  father  any  harm.  But 
I  know  they  didn't  like  the  way  he  was  getting 
after  them,  for  they  knew  that,  sooner  or  later, 
lie  might  sue  them  and  possibly  put  one  or  more 
of  them  in  jail  for  fraud." 


X38        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

For  fully  an  hour  the  boys  talked  the  situa- 
tion over,  and  by  that  time  Sam  was  so  sleepy 
he  could  scarcely  keep  his  eyes  open.  Then  they 
retired,  Dick  remaining  in  the  apartment  his 
father  had  occupied,  and  Sam  and  Tom  taking 
the  next  room. 

For  over  half  an  hour  Dick  turned  and  tossed 
on  the  bed — his  mind  filled  with  thoughts  of  his 
father.  What  had  become  of  his  parent?  Had 
he  been  hurt,  or  killed,  or  was  he  being  held  a 
prisoner  by  his  enemies?  What  if  his  father 
should  never  be  heard  of  again?  The  last 
thought  was  so  horrible  it  made  the  youth 
shiver. 

"  We've  got  to  find  him ! "  he  murmured,  as 
he  drew  the  bedclothes  around  him.  "  We've 
got  to  do  it !  " 

At  last  Dick  fell  into  a  troubled  sleep,  fol- 
lowing the  example  of  his  brothers,  who  had 
also  found  difficulty  in  settling  themselves. 

Presently  the  oldest  Rover  boy  awoke  with  a 
start.  He  sat  up  in  bed,  wondering  what  had 
thus  awakened  him. 

From  the  next  room  came  the  regular  breath- 
ing  of  Sam  and  Tom,  showing  that  they  were 
still  in  the  land  of  slumber.  Dick  listened,  but 
no  unusual  sound  broke  the  stillness. 

"  It    must   have    been    my    nervousness,"    he 


AT    THE    OUTLOOK    HOTEL 


139 


thought.  "Father's  disappearance  has  been  too 
much  for  me.  Well,  it's  enough  to  get  on  any- 
body's nerves." 

He  prepared  to  lie  down  again,  when  a  faint 
scraping  sound  caught  his  ear.  He  listened  in- 
tently. 

Somebody  was  at  the  hallway  door,  trying  to 
insert  a  key  in  the  lock.  But  the  key  would  not 
go  in,  because  of  the  key  already  there. 

"  Maybe  it's  father  coming  back !  "  thought 
the  youth,  and  leaped  from  the  bed  to  the  floor. 
Three  steps  took  him  to  the  door  and  he  quickly 
turned  the  key  and  caught  hold  of  the  handle. 

As  Dick  started  to  fling  the  door  open  he 
heard  a  muttered  exclamation  of  dismay  in  the 
hall  outside.  Then  came  the  sound  of  retreat- 
ing footsteps,  and  a  slight  tinkle,  as  of  metal 
striking  metal. 

"  Hi,  stop!  Who  are  you?  "  called  the  youth, 
and  the  cry  aroused  Tom  and  Sam.  He  flung 
open  the  door  and  leaped  into  the  semi-dark 
hallway.  The  figure  of  a  man  was  just  disap- 
pearing around  a  corner.  Dick  saw  that  he  wore 
a  heavy  beard  and  that  was  all. 

The  oldest  Rover  boy  was  thoroughly  aroused 
now,  and  calling  to  Sam  and  Tom  to  follow,  he 
darted  after  the  flying  individual.  But  by  the 
time  he  reached  the  corner  of  the  corridor  the 


I40        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

man  was  out  of  sight.  He  heard  a  distant  door 
shut  and  then  all  became  quiet. 

"Who  was  it?"  asked  Tom,  as  he  joined 
Dick. 

"  Was  the  fellow  in  your  room?"  asked  Sam. 

"  No,  but  he  was  trying  to  get  in,"  answered 
Dick.  "When  I  woke  up  he  was  trying  to  put 
a  key  in  the  lock.  When  I  started  to  open  the 
door,  thinking  it  might  be  dad,  the  fellow  ran 
away." 

"Was  it  a  hallman?" 

"  I  don't  think  so." 

"Where  did  he  go  to?" 

"  Somewhere  in  this  part  of  the  hotel.  I  just 
heard  a  door  shut." 

"  Then  he  must  be  on  this  floor,"  said  Tom. 
"  Say,  we  ought  to  investigate  this.  Did  you  get 
a  look  at  him,  Dick?  " 

"  Not  much  of  a  look.  I  saw  he  had  a  heavy 
beard." 

By  this  time  one  of  the  hallmen  was  coming 
up,  and  to  him  the  boys  explained  what  had 
happened.  He  was  much  interested,  for  he  knew 
about  the  disappearance  of  Mr.  Rover,  and  said 
he  would  report  to  the  office. 

"  I  think  I  heard  something  drop,"  said  Dick, 
.as  the  boys  returned  to  the  rooms,  to  put  on 


AT    THE    OUTLOOK   HOTEL 

some  clothing.  "  Hello,  here  they  are !  A 
bunch  of  keys!"  And  he  held  them  up. 

"  One  of  'em  is  new,"  said  Sam,  examining 
the  bunch. 

"  Maybe  it  was  made  for  the  lock  of  the  door 
to  the  room  father  occupied,"  suggested  Tom. 

"  It's  like  the  old  key,"  returned  Dick,  com- 
paring the  two.  "  That  rascal,  whoever  he  is, 
must  have  had  the  key  made  for  the  sole  pur- 
pose of  getting  into  this  room!" 

"  But  for  what  reason  ?  "  questioned  Sam. 

"To  get  at  dad's  private  papers,"  answered 
his  big  brother.  "  Boys,  if  we  catch  that  man 
maybe  we'll  be  able  to  find  out  what  has  become 
of  father!" 


CHAPTER   XIV 

DICK     MAKES    A     DISCOVERY 

WHILE  the  boys  were  discussing  the  situation 
one  of  the  night  clerks  of  the  hotel  arrived, 
having  been  summoned  by  the  hallman.  He 
listened  with  interest  to  what  the  lads  had  to 
tell. 

"  I'll  set  the  house  detective  on  this,"  he  said. 
"We  can't  allow  anybody  to  prowl  around,  try- 
ing to  use  false  keys." 

"  We  want  to  catch  that  man  ourselves,"  said 
Dick.  "  We  are  going  to  set  a  watch  for  him. 
No  more  sleep  for  us  to-night." 

"  I  don't  blame  you,"  returned  the  clerk.  "If 
you  spot  him,  call  up  the  office  and  we'll  give 
you  all  the  help  you  want." 

The  boys  hurried  into  their  clothing,  and  then? 
led  by  Dick,  walked  noiselessly  through  the  va- 
rious hallways  of  the  big  hotel  in  the  direction 
where  the  oldest  Rover  boy  had  heard  the  door 
shut.  But  though  they  passed  many  doors,  Dick 
could  not  determine  which  was  the  right  one. 
142 


DICK   MAKES   A    DISCOVERY  143 

"  Let  us  set  a  regular  watch,"  suggested  Tom. 
"  We  can  take  turns.  One  can  watch  while  the 
others  sleep." 

"All  right,  I'll  watch  first,"  answered  Dick. 

"  Call  me  in  an  hour,  Dick,"  returned  Tom. 

"  And  call  me  an  hour  after  that — if  you  want 
me,"  added  Sam. 

The  hallway  was  long  and  but  dimly  lighted. 
At  the  end  was  a  sofa,  and  after  walking  up  and 
down  several  times,  Dick  sat  down  on  this.  The 
long  journey  from  Valley  Brook  farm  had  made 
him  sleepy,  but  he  resolved  to  keep  wide  awake, 
in  case  the  mysterious  individual  should  again 
show  himself. 

"  He's  got  to  come  out  of  his  door  some  time, 
unless  he  tries  to  get  away  by  a  fire  escape," 
thought  the  youth.  "And  I  guess  all  the  fire 
escapes  on  this  side  of  the  building  are  at  the  end 
of  the  hall.  I  hope  I've  got  him  trapped,  who- 
ever he  is." 

Half  an  hour  went  by  and  nothing  unusual 
happened.  Then  Dick  heard  a  distant  elevator 
stop,  and  two  men  got  off  and  came  down  the 
hallway.  They  stared  rather  curiously  at  the 
youth. 

"  What's  the  matter?  "  asked  one,  presently. 

"Waiting  for  a  friend,"  was  the  answer. 

"Humph!  rather  late,"  remarked  the  man. 


144       THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  Better  say  early,  Jack,"  laughed  the  other, 
"It's  ten  after  two." 

"  Is  that  so !  Great  Scott !  Time  we  got  to 
bed ! "  And  the  two  men  passed  into  a  nearby 
room,  locking  the  door  after  them.  % 

After  that  came  another  period  of  silence, 
broken  only  by  the  sounds  of  the  two  men  un- 
dressing. To  keep  himself  awake  Dick  com- 
menced to  walk  .up  and  down  the  long  hallway 
again. 

"I  guess  I'll  call  Tom,"  he  thought,  at  last, 
after  more  than  an  hour  had  passed.  "  I've 
got  to  get  some  sleep,  or  I  won't  be  worth  any- 
thing in  the  morning.  And  if  I  am  to  call  on 
Messrs.  Pelter,  Japson  &  Company  I  want  to 
have  my  wits  about  me." 

He  stepped  around  the  corner  of  the  hallway, 
in  the  direction  where  his  own  room  was  located. 
He  did  not  know  that  a  man  with  eager  eyes 
was  watching  him, — a  man  who  stood  on  a  chair 
in  one  of  the  rooms,  peering  through  the  tran- 
som light  of  the  door. 

"  Gone  at  last — I  was  afraid  he  would  stay 
here  all  night !  "  muttered  the  man.  "  Now  is  my 
/chance  to  get  away.  I  didn't  think  they'd  get 
here  to-night.  I  should  have  gotten  that  key 
made  sooner."  And  opening  the  door  noise- 
lessly, he  came  out  into  the  hallway.  He  wore 


DICK   MAKES   A    DISCOVERY  i45 

a  thin  overcoat  and  a  slouch  hat,  and  a  heavy 
beard  covered  his  face. 

Dick  hurried  his  steps  and  called  Tom,  and 
then  went  back  to  the  other  hallway,  unwilling 
to  leave  it  unguarded  even  for  a  few  minutes 
He  was  just  in  time  to  see  somebody  disappear- 
ing down  a  broad  flight  of  stairs  to  the  floor 
below. 

"Hello!  who's  that?"  he  asked  himself,  and 
ran  towards  the  stairs.  When  he  arrived  there 
he  looked  down,  to  see  the  man  going  down  fur- 
ther, to  the  ground  floor  of  the  hotel. 

"The  same  fellow,  I'll  bet  all  I'm  worth!" 
cried  Dick.  "  There  is  that  heavy  beard !  He 
must  have  been  watching  for  a  chance  to  get 
away !  What  a  chump  I  was  to  let  him  get  out ! 
I've  got  to  stop  him ! "  And  he  bounded  down 
the  stairs  three  steps  at  a  time. 

By  the  time  Dick  reached  the  next  floor  the 
man  was  in  the  lower  corridor  of  the  big  hotel. 
Here,  in  spite  of  the  hour,  quite  a  few  people 
were  stirring — coming  in  from  late  suppers  after 
an  evening  at  the  play  or  opera.  The  man  moved 
into  the  crowd  and  towards  the  main  entrance  on. 
Broadway. 

"  Hi !  Stop  him !  Stop  that  man !  "  cried  the 
oldest  Rover  boy,  as  he,  too,  gained  the  lower 
corridor.  But  the  man  had  already  gotten  out 


146        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

on  Broadway.  As  Dick  came  out  he  saw  the 
fellow  run  across  the  street  to  a  distant  corner 
and  leap  into  a  taxioab  that  was  empty.  The 
driver  was  on  the  seat  and  the  turnout  started 
rapidly  away. 

"  You're  not  going  to  get  away  if  I  can  help 
it,"  muttered  Dick,  desperately,  and  looked 
around  for  another  taxicab.  One  stood  half- 
way down  the  block,  the  driver  taking  a  nap 
inside. 

"  Wake  up ! "  exclaimed  Dick,  shaking  the 
man.  "  See  that  taxi  ?  I  want  to  follow  it ! 
Don't  let  it  get  out  of  your  sight,  if  you 
want  your  fare  and  a  couple  of  dollars  be- 
sides." 

"  I'm  on ! "  answered  the  driver,  and  leaped 
into  his  seat,  while  Dick  got  into  the  cab.  Away 
they  started,  in  the  full  glare  of  the  electric 
lights  of  Broadway. 

The  course  was  downtown,  and  the  first  taxi- 
cab  made  rapid  progress.  The  man  inside  looked 
back  and  when  he  saw  Dick  following  him,  he 
spoke  hurriedly  to  his  driver.  Then  the  cab 
turned  swiftly  into  a  side  street,  and,  reaching 
Fifth  Avenue,  shot  northward  on  that  well- 
known  thoroughfare. 

"  Can  you  catch  that  other  taxi  ?  "  asked  Dick, 
anxiously. 


DICK   MAKES   A    DISCOVERY 


147 


"  I  can  try,"  was  the  grim  answer.  "  He's 
going  some,  though !  " 

"  Maybe  they'll  be  held  up  at  some  cross 
street." 

"  Not  this  time  in  the  morning,"  answered  the 
.driver.     "They've  got  a  straight  road  to  the 
Park." 

On  and  on  went  one  taxicab  after  the  other. 
Fifty-fifth  Street  was  passed  and  still  the  first 
turnout  kept  well  in  the  lead.  But  then  a  big 
furniture  van  appeared  out  of  a  side  street  and 
the  cab  ahead  had  to  slow  down. 

"  Now  is  your  chance !  "  cried  Dick.  "  Run 
up  alongside  of  'em ! " 

His  driver  did  as  requested.  But  then  came 
a  mix-up,  as  two  more  cabs  appeared,  and  Dick's 
was  caught  between  them.  He  looked  ahead  and 
saw  the  man  with  the  heavy  beard  leap  to  the 
ground. 

"  Guess  your  man  is  going  to  run  for  the 
Park !  "  cried  the  taxicab  driver.  "  Hold  on — I 
want  my  money  first,  young  fellow ! " 
i  Dick  had  leaped  to  the  ground,  bent  on  catch- 
ing the  fleeing  individual.  He  pulled  some  bills 
from  his  pocket. 

"  Here  is  five  dollars — wait  for  me ! "  he  cried. 
''Or  maybe  you  had  better  come  along.  That 
fellow  is  a  criminal." 


148        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  I'll  wait  here,"  answered  the  taxicab  driver. 
He  did  not  wish  to  become  mixed  up  in  an  affair 
which  he  did  not  understand. 

The  corner  of  Central  Park  at  Fifty^-seventb 
Street  was  already  in  sight.     The  bearded  man 
ran  swiftly  across  the  broad  plaza  and  the  side^ 
walk.     Then   he   darted  along  the  side   of  the'( 
Park  and  on  to  the  path  leading  to  the  menag-, 
erie.     In  a  moment  more  the  darkness  of  the 
place  swallowed  him  up. 

"Hey  there,  what  are  you  running  for?"  It 
was  a  challenge  from  a  Park  policeman,  as  he 
stepped  in  front  of  Dick. 

"  I  wanted  to  catch  that  man  who  just  ran  in 
here,"  explained  the  youth. 

"  I  didn't  see  any  man." 

"  Well,  he  went  in  here  just  now.  He  ran 
away  from  the  Outlook  Hotel  in  a  taxi  and  got 
out  just  below  here." 

"  Who  is  he?"  asked  the  policeman,  becoming 
interested. 

"  I  don't  know.  But  he  tried  to  get  in  my 
room  at  the  hotel.  The  hotel  men  want  to  catch 
him." 

"  Humph !     Well  he's  gone  now." 

Dick  continued  to  look  around  for  the  escaped 
man,  but  it  was  all  to  no  purpose.  Then  he  re- 
turned to  where  he  had  left  the  taxicab.  He 


DICK   MAKES   A    DISCOVERY 


149 


found  his  driver  in  earnest  conversation  with  the 
other  driver. 

"  That  fellow  didn't  pay  me  a  cent ! "  com- 
plained the  other  driver,  bitterly.  "  An'  after 
<.«ne  doing  my  best  for  him,  too ! " 

"  Why  did  you  try  to  run  away  ?  "  asked  Dick, 
coldly. 

"  I  thought  it  was  all  right.  He  said  he  had 
a  'phone  message  that  his  father  was  dying  and 
he  must  git  up  town  at  once,  and  he  promised 
me  big  pay.  I  didn't  know  he  was  trying  to  git 
away  from  anybody." 

"  Well,  it's  too  bad  he  got  away  from  all  of 
us.  By  the  way,  can  you  describe  him  to  me  ?  " 
went  on  Dick,  curiously. 

"  Don't  you  know  him?  " 

"Only  by  reputation — and  that's  bad,"  and 
Dick  smiled  grimly. 

"  He  was  tall  and  thin  and  didn't  have  much 
hair  on  his  head.  I  think  them  whiskers  was 
false." 

"Anything  else  that  you  remember?" 

"  He  had  two  of  his  front  teeth  filled  with 
gold.  I  noticed  it  when  he  yawned  under  th< 
electric  lights." 

"Two  front  teeth  filled  with  gold!"  cried 
Dick,  in  amazement.  "  And  tall  and  thin !  Can 
it  be  possible !  " 


ISO 

"  Do  you  know  him  after  all  ? "  asked  the 
man  who  had  given  the  information. 

"  Perhaps  I  do.  Tell  me  some  more  about 
him.  How  was  he  dressed  and  how  did  he 
talk?" 

As  well  as  he  was  able  the  taxicab  man  de- 
scribed the  individual  who  had  gotten  away.  As 
he  proceeded  Dick  became  more  and  more  con- 
vinced that  he  was  on  the  right  trail. 

"  Here  is  a  dollar  for  what  you  have  told 
me,"  said  he,  to  the  driver.  "  If  you  spot  that 
rascal,  have  him  arrested,  and  call  up  the  Out- 
look Hotel,"  he  added. 

"  All  right,  I'll  remember  that,"  was  the  ready 
answer. 

"  I'll  go  back  to  the  hotel,"  said  the  youth,  to 
his  own  driver.  He  knew  that  Sam  and 
Tom  would  be  wondering  what  had  become 
of  him. 

It  took  but  a  short  while  to  reach  the  Outlook 
Hotel,  and  there  Dick  found  not  only  Sam  and 
Tom,  but  also  a  clerk  and  several  others  await- 
ing his  return.  He  settled  with  the  driver,  and 
dismissed  him. 

"Do  you  know  anything  about  the  man  who 
got  away?"  asked  Dick,  of  the  clerk. 

"  Not  much.     He  came  here  several  days  ago 


DICK   MAKES   A    DISCOVERY  I5I 

and  registered  under  the  name  of  Peter  Smith, 
of  Pittsburgh.  All  he  had  was  a  small  valise, 
and  that  is  still  in  his  room." 

"Anything  in  it?" 

"I  don't  know.  We  can  go  up  and  take  a 
look." 

"  It's  a  pity  you  didn't  catch  the  rascal,  who- 
ever he  is,"  was  Tom's  comment. 

"Wait,"  whispered  Dick,  to  his  brothers. 
"I've  got  something  to  tell  you." 

All  passed  upstairs  in  an  elevator,  and  the 
clerk  led  the  way  to  the  room  which  the  patron 
calling  himself  Peter  Smith  had  occupied.  All 
lihe  apartment  contained  was  a  rusty-looking 
valise. 

"  Must  have  picked  that  up  at  some  stcond- 
hand  store,"  was  Sam's  comment 

The  valise  was  unlocked  and  the  clerk  opened 
It  It  contained  nothing  but  a  comb  and  brush 
and  some  magazines. 

"  Humph !  A  dead  beat ! "  muttered  the  clerk. 
"  He  put  the  magazines  inside  to  make  the 
valise  feel  as  if  it  was  filled  with  clothing.  It's 
an  old  game.  He  intended  to  leave  without 
paying  his  bill.  I  wish  you  had  collared  him !  " 

"I  wish  I  had,"  answered  Dick;  and  then  he 
and  his  brothers  returned  to  their  own  rooms. 


152        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"What  have  you  got  to  tell?"  demanded 
Tom,  when  they  were  alone. 

"I've  found  out  who  that  man  was,"  an- 
swered Dick. 

"  Who  ?  "  questioned  Sam. 

"Josiah  Crabtree." 


CHAPTER  XV 
AT  THE  BROKERS'  OFFICE 

SAM  and  Tom  gazed  at  their  brother  in 
amazement. 

"Josiah  Crabtreet!"  exclaimed  the  youngest 
Rover. 

"How  did  you  find  that  out?"  questioned 
Tom. 

"  I  suspected  Crabtree  as  soon  as  I  saw  the 
man  jump  into  the  taxicab,"  answered  Dick. 
"  There  was  something  about  his  form,  and  in 
the  way  he  ran,  that  looked  familiar.  Then  the 
taxi  driver  told  me  he  had  two  front  teeth  filled 
with  gold.  That  put  me  on  the  trail,  and  from 
what  the  man  told  me  I  am  sure  the  fellow  was 
old  Crabtree." 

"But  if  it  was  Crabtree,  what  has  he  to  do 
with  dad's  visit  to  New  York?"  asked  Sam. 

"  That  remains  to  be  found  out.  But  one 
thing  is  sure.  Crabtree  knows  that  father  is 
missing, — and  he  had  that  extra  key  made  to 
get  into  the  room  during  father's  absence." 


154        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  But  where  is  dad  ?  Do  you  imagine  Crab- 
tree  had  anything  to  do  with  his  disappearance?  " 
came  from  Tom. 

"  I  certainly  do.  Maybe  Crabtree  is  holding; 
him  a  prisoner." 

"  Then  Pelter,  Japson  &  Company  haven't 
anything  to  do  with  it?  " 

"  I  wouldn't  say  that,  Tom.  The  whole 
crowd  may  be  working  together." 

"  You  think  Crabtree  knows  those  other 
men?" 

"  It  may  be  so — I  am  not  sure.  But  I  am 
sure  of  one  thing,"  went  on  Dick,  decidedly. 
"  Dad  didn't  meet  with  any  accident.  His  dis- 
appearance is  due  to  Crabtree,  and,  likely,  to 
some  of  his  other  enemies." 

"  Well,  that  clears  up  one  corner  of  the  mys- 
tery," said  Sam.  "  But  it  doesn't  get  us  any 
nearer  to  finding  dad." 

"  I  think  it  does,  Sam.  If  we  can  locate 
Crabtree,  I  think  we  can  locate  father." 

"  But  how  are  we  going  to  locate  Crab- 
tree?" 

"  I  don't  know.  But  if  we  keep  our  eyes  and 
ears  open  we  may  learn  something.  In  the 
morning  some  of  us  can  call  on  those  brokers  and 
see  what  they  have  to  say,"  continued  the  big 
brother. 


AT    THE   BROKERS'  OFFICE  155 

"  Some  of  us  ?  I  thought  we  were  all  go- 
ing? "  remarked  Tom. 

"  I've  got  a  new  plan,  Tom ;  I'll  tell  you  about 
it  in  the  morning.  Now,  as  there  is  no  use  of 
watching  that  room  any  longer,  let  us  try  to  get 
a  little  sleep." 

"  It  will  be  very  little,"  murmured  Sam,  con- 
sulting his  watch.  "  It  is  nearly  five  o'clock 
already!" 

"  We'll  sleep  until  eight  o'clock.  Those 
brokers  don't  get  to  business  until  nearly  ten." 

Once  more  the  boys  retired,  and,  after  much 
turning,  all  dropped  into  slumber.  Dick  had 
made  up  his  mind  to  awaken  at  eight  o'clock  and 
promptly  at  that  hour  he  opened  his  eyes.  His 
brothers  were  still  asleep  and  he  allowed  them 
half  an  hour  longer,  for  he  knew  they  needed 
it. 

"  Now  then,  Dick,  what's  your  pro- 
gramme?" asked  Tom,  while  he  was  dressing. 

"  My  programme  is  this,"  answered  the  big 
brother.  "  Instead  of  the  three  of  us  calling  OR 
Pelter,  Japson  &  Company  I  think  one  is  enough 
— and  that  ought  to  be  me,  for  I  have  already 
met  Mr.  Pelter,  once,  when  I  came  to  New  York 
with  dad." 

"  But  what  do  you  want  to  leave  us  out  for?  ** 
grumbled  Sam. 


156        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  I  don't  want  to  leave  you  out — I  want  you 
to  be  doing  something  else,  for  we  have  no  time 
to  lose  in  this  matter.  I  want  you,  Sam,  to 
come  with  me,  and  when  I  go  into  the  offices,  I 
want  you  to  hang  around  outside  and  watch  for 
old  Crabtree.  If  he  is  in  league  with  the  brokers 
he  may  be  looking  for  a  chance  to  interview 
them,  but  he  will  be  on  his  guard,  knowing  that 
iwe  are  here." 

"What  am  I  to  do?"  asked  Tom. 

"I  think  you  had  better  go  up  to  Central  Park, 
Tom,  and  see  if  you  can  find  out  anything  there 
-about  Crabtree.  Maybe  some  of  the  night 
prowlers  around  there  saw  him  last  night.  Any- 
iway,  I  don't  want  you  to  be  seen  at  the  offices 
with  me — for  I've  got  another  plan  in  my  head 
i — if  this  one  fails,"  went  on  Dick. 

"All  right,  Dick,  we'll  do  what  you  say," 
was  Tom's  reply. 

The  boys  went  below  and  obtained  breakfast 
in  the  hotel  restaurant.  Then  they  went  to  the 
desk,  to  ask  for  letters,  and  then  to  the  tele- 
graph office,  to  send  a  brief  message  to  the  farm. 

"Have  you  discovered  anything?"  questioned 
the  hotel  manager,  as  he  came  up  to  them. 

"  Not  a  great  deal,"  answered  Dick.  "  But 
we  hope  to  get  on  the  track  of  something  to- 
day." 


AT    THE   BROKERS'  OFFICE  i57 

"Hope  you  do.  What  about  those  two 
rooms  ? " 

"  We'll  keep  them  for  the  present,  Mr.  Gar- 
ley." 

"All  right" 

"  And  I  want  you  to  watch  out,  so  that  no 
outsider  gets  into  them,"  went  on  Dick. 

"  Leave  that  to  me,  Mr.  Rover.  My  men 
have  their  instructions.  We  can't  afford  to  leave 
our  guests  go  unprotected." 

"Good!  If  anybody  tries  to  get  into  our 
rooms  I  want  you  to  have  him  arrested  and 
held." 

"  He'll  be  held,  don't  worry  about  that,"  an- 
swered the  hotel  manager,  grimly. 

A  little  later  the  three  Rover  boys  separated, 
Tom  walking  over  to  Fifth  Avenue,  to  take  an 
auto  bus  going  uptown,  as  that  would  land  him 
close  to  the  Park  entrance. 

"  We  might  as  well  take  a  Broadway  car 
down  to  Wall  street,"  said  Dick,  to  Sam.  "  We 
have  plenty  of  time,  and  I  don't  like  the  air  in  the 
subway." 

"  I  like  the  street  cars  better  anyway,"  re- 
sponded the  younger  brother.  "A  fellow  can 
see  more." 

As  was  to  be  expected,  the  car  was  crowded, 
and  the  boys  had  to  take  "  strap  seats,"  as  Sam 


158        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

called  them — standing  up  in  the  aisle,  holding  on 
to  a  strap  to  keep  from  falling  or  sitting  down 
suddenly  into  somebody's  lap  when  the  car  made 
a  turn.  They  swept  down  past  Union  Square 
and  block  after  block  of  tall  business  buildings. 

"  My,  what  a  big  place  New  York  is ! "  re- 
marked Sam.  "  It's  a  regular  bee  hive  and  no 
mistake." 

"  We  are  coming  down  to  the  Post  Office," 
said  Dick,  a  little  later. 

"  Gracious !  See  the  building  opposite ! " 
gasped  Sam.  "  It's  higher  than  a  church  steeple ! 
Wonder  how  many  stories  it  is?  " 

"  Fifty  stories,"  answered  a  young  man  stand- 
ing beside  him. 

Soon  the  car  was  in  lower  Broadway,  and 
the  boys  watched  out  for  Wall  street,  that  nar- 
row but  famous  thoroughfare  opposite  Trinity 
church.  It  was  soon  reached,  and,  in  company 
with  several  men  ?nd  boys,  they  left  the  car. 

Dick  had  the  address  of  the  brokers  in  his 
pocket  and  the  place  was  easily  found.  The  of- 
fices were  located  in  an  old  building — one  of  the 
oldest  on  the  street,  and  also  one  of  the  shab- 
biest. But  it  was  five  stories  in  height  and 
boasted  of  two  elevators,  and  was,  from  appear- 
ances, filled  with  prosperous  tenants.  In  Wall 
street  rents  are  so  high  that  many  a  person  do- 


AT    THE    BROKERS'  OFFICE  i5^ 

ing  business  there  is  willing  to  take  whatever 
quarters  he  can  get. 

"  Now  you  hang  around  in  the  street  here 
until  I  come  back,"  said  Dick  to  Sam.  "  Keep 
out  of  sight  all  you  can,  so  that  if  Crabtree 
comes  along  he  won't  see  you.  I'll  go  up  and  • 
see  what  Pelter,  Japson  &  Company  have  to- 
say." 

"  How  long  will  you  be  gone,  Dick?  " 

"  Not  more  than  half  an  hour  at  the  most — 
and  maybe  not  half  that,"  responded  the  big 
brother. 

Sam  dropped  behind  and  Dick  entered  the 
dingy  office  building.  From  the  directory  on  the 
wall  the  oldest  Rover  boy  learned  that  the  brok- 
ers were  located  on  the  fourth  floor,  rooms  408 
to  412, — the  numerals  really  meaning  offices  8 
to  12  on  floor  4.  He  got  into  one  of  the  nar- 
row elevators  and  soon  reached  the  fourth 
floor. 

The  offices  of  Pelter,  Japson  &  Company  were 
located  in  the  rear,  overlooking  the  roof  of  a 
restaurant  on  the  street  beyond.  Dick  entered 
a  tiny  waiting  room  and  an  office  boy  came  to/ 
ask  what  he  wanted. 

"  I  wish  to  see  Mr.  Pelter,"  said  Dick. 

"Not  in  yet." 

"When  do  you  expect  him?" 


160       THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  Ought  to  be  here  now." 

"Then  I'll  wait,"  and  Dick  dropped  on  a 
chair.  He  had  hardly  done  so  when  the  door 
opened  and  a  burly  individual  hurried  in.  He 
gave  Dick  an  inquiring  look. 

"  Wants  to  see  you,  Mr.  Pelter,"  said  the  of- 
fice boy.  "Just  came  in." 

"Want  to  see  me?  What  is  it?"  and  the 
head  of  the  brokerage  firm  stepped  up  to  Dick, 

"You  are  Mr.  Pelter?" 

"Yes." 

"  I  am  Richard  Rover — Anderson  Rover's 
son." 

"  Ah !  indeed !  "  cried  Jesse  Pelter,  and  gave  a 
slight  start.  "  Glad  to  meet  you,  Mr.  Rover," 
and  he  held  out  his  hand.  "  Will  you — er — step 
into  my  office  ?  " 

He  led  the  way  through  two  offices  to  one  in 
the  extreme  rear.  This  was  well  furnished, 
with  a  desk,  a  table,  several  chairs  and  a  book- 
case filled  with  legal-looking  volumes.  In  one 
corner  was  a  telephone  booth,  and  a  telephone 
•connection  also  rested  on  the  desk. 

"  I  came  to  see  about  my  father,"  said  Dick, 
,a.s  he  sat  down  in  a  chair  to  which  the  broker 
motioned. 

"You  mean,  about  your  father's  business,  I 
suppose." 


AT    THE    BROKERS'  OFFICE 

"No,  about  my  father.  Do  you  know  where 
he  is,  Mr.  Pelter?" 

"  Know  where  he  is?  What  do  you  mean? 
Isn't  he  in  New  York  ?  "  The  broker  pretended 
to  arrange  some  papers  on  his  desk  as  he  spoke 
and  did  not  look  at  Dick. 

"  He  has  disappeared  and  I  thought  you  might 
know  something  about  it." 

Dick  looked  the  man  full  in  the  face.  He  saw 
the  broker  start  and  then  try  to  control  him- 
self. 

"Well  that — er — accounts  for  it,"  said  Jesse- 
Pelter,  slowly,  as  if  trying  to  make  up  his  mind 
what  to  say. 

"  Accounts  for  what?  " 

"  Why,  he  didn't  come  back  here  as  he  said  he 
would." 

"  He  has  been  here  then  ?  " 

"  Yes,  a  number  of  days  ago.  We  had  quite 
some  important  business  to  transact.  He  said 
he  would  come  back  the  next  day  and  sign  some 
papers,  and  fix  up  some  other  matters.  But  he 
didn't  come." 

"  Did  he  say  he  would  be  here  sure  ?  " 

"He  did.     So  he  has  disappeared?     That  is 
strange.       Perhaps   some  accident   happened   to  ' 
him." 

"  I  hope  not.     I  knew  he  came  to  New  York 


162        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

to  see  you  and  your  partners.  I  thought  you 
could  tell  me  something  about  him." 

"  I  don't  know  any  more  than  that  he  called 
here  one  day  and  said  he  would  come  in  again 
the  next,  Mr.  Rover.  If  he  is — er — missing 
you  had  better  notify  the  police, — unless  you 
have  some  idea  where  he  went  to,"  continued 
the  broker. 

"  I  have  no  idea  further  than  that  he  came  to 
New  York  to  see  you — and  that  he  came  here 
from  his  hotel." 

"  See  here !  Do  you  mean  to  insinuate  that  we 
— er — may  know  where  he  is — why  he  is  miss- 
ing? "  demanded  Jesse  Pelter,  sharply. 

"  I  insinuate  nothing,  Mr.  Pelter.  But  if 
you  expected  him  the  next  day  after  he  was 
here,  and  he  didn't  come,  why  didn't  you  tele- 
phone to  him  ?  " 

"  I — er — I  didn't  know  where  he  was  stop- 
ping. If  I  had  known,  I  might  have  telephoned 
to  him.  Although  he  had  a  right  to  stay  away 
from  here  if  he  wanted  to." 

"He  is  transacting  quite  some  business  with 
you,  isn't  he?" 

"We  have  done  quite  some  business  together 
In  the  past,  yes,"  answered  the  broker,  coldly. 

"  And  matters  were  not  gomg  very  well,  were 
they?"  questioned  Dick,  sharply. 


THE   HEAD   OF  THE   BROKERAGE    FIRM   STEPPED   UP   TO   DICK. 
The  Rover  Boys  tn  Ne-w  York.  — Page  160- 


AT    THE    BROKERS'  OFFICE  163 

"They  iwere  going  as  well  as  could  be  ex- 
pected." 

"  You  owed  my  father  a  great  deal  of  money, 
didn't  you?" 

"We  did  owe  him  something.  But  we  don't 
owe  him  anything  now.  We  settled  up  with 
him  in  full,"  was  the  reply,  which  filled  Dick 
with  new  astonishment 


CHAPTER  XVI 

MORE    DISCOVERIES 

**  Yw  settled  up  .with  him  in  full  ?  "  gasped 
Dick. 

"  Yes — some  time  ago." 

"Not  for  that  stock  in  the  Sunset  Irrigation 
Company." 

"  I  was  not  talking  about  the  Irrigation  Com- 
pany. That  is  another  affair.  Your  father  was 
to  see  us  about  that  on  the  morning  when  he — 
er — when  he  failed  to  come  here.  I — er — I 
thought  he  had  gone  back  home  to  get  certain 
documents  which  he  stated  he  did  not  have  with 
him." 

"And  you  haven't  seen  or  heard  of  him 
since  ?  " 

"  Not  a  word,  Mr.  Rover — I  give  you  my 
>word." 

"  Did  he  leave  any  of  his  papers  with  you 
when  he  was  here  last  ?  " 

"  No."  Jesse  Pelter  took  up  the  telephone  on 
his  desk.  "  Give  me  2345  River ! "  he  said  to 
Central.  He  turned  to  Dick.  "You  will  have 

164 


MORE    DISCOVERIES  165 

to  excuse  me,  Mr.  Rover,  I  have  some  important 
business  to  transact" 

"  It  isn't  as  important  as  finding  my  father," 
answered  Dick,  bluntly. 

"  I  do  not  know  how  I  can  aid  you." 

"  Perhaps  you  don't  care  to  try,"  returned 
Dick,  pointedly,  as  he  arose. 

"What  do  you  mean?  "  demanded  the  broker, 
and  hanging  up  the  telephone  receiver,  he,  too, 
arose. 

"  Never  mind  what  I  mean,  Mr.  Pelter.  If 
you  will  give  me  no  aid,  I'll  find  my  father 
alone,"  and  having  thus  spoken,  Dick  marched 
from  the  offices,  leaving  the  broker  staring  after 
him  curiously. 

"  Hum !  Looks  like  a  smart  young  man !  " 
murmured  Jesse  Pelter,  to  himself.  "  And  1 
thought  Anderson  Rover's  boys  were  all  school 
kids!  This  lad  has  grown  up  fast.  I  wonder 
what  he'll  do  next?  I  guess  I  had  better  keep 
my  eye  on  him." 

When  Dick  readied  the  street  he  saw  nothing 
of  Sam,  He  looked  up  and  down,  and  then 
walked  slowly  in  the  direction  of  Broadway. 
'On  the  corner  he  came  to  a  halt. 

"  He  must  be  somewhere  around,"  he  mused. 
"Perhaps  I'd  better  go  back  and  wait  for 
him." 


166        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"  Dick ! "  The  cry  came  from  Sam,  as  he 
arrived  on  a  run.  "Did  you  learn  anything?" 

"  Not  much.  But  you  look  excited,  Sam. 
What's  up?" 

"  I  think  I  saw  Crabtree ! " 

"You  did!  Where?  Why  didn't  you  collar 
him?" 

"  I  didn't  get  the  chance,"  returned  the  young- 
est Rover,  answering  the  last  question  first.  "  It 
was  on  the  corner  below  here.  I  was  standing 
in  a  doorway,  watching  up  and  down,  when  I 
saw  a  tall  man  come  along  slowly.  He  halted  at 
the  corner  and  presently  another  man  came  out 
of  the  side  street  and  touched  him  on  the  arm. 
The  second  man  wore  a  heavy  beard  and  a 
slouch  hat  and  colored  eyeglasses,  but  I  am  al- 
most sure  it  was  Josiah  Crabtree." 

"Why  didn't  you  go  up  and  make  sure? 
You  could  have  pulled  the  beard  from  his  face — 
if  it  was  false." 

"Just  what  I  thought.  But  I  decided  that 
first  I  would  listen  to  what  the  two  men  had  to 
say.  When  I  got  closer  to  the  pair  I  made  an-! 
other  discovery. 

"What  was  that." 

"  The  first  man  had  a  pointed  chin  and  the 
heaviest  pair  of  eyebrows  I  ever  saw." 

"  What ! "  ejaculated  Dick,  and  his  mind  ran 


MORE    DISCOVERIES  167 

back  to  the  jail  at  Plankville,  and  to  what  had 
been  said  about  the  man  who  had  visited  Josiah 
Crabtree.  And  then  he  thought  of  the  myster- 
1  ious  automobile  and  its  driver. 

"  Yes,  I  know  what  you  think,  Dick — and  I 

,  think  the  same — that  that  man  was  the  one  who 

aided  Crabtree  to  escape  from  jail/'  said  Sam. 

"What  did  the  men  say,  Sam?" 

"  I  didn't  get  a  chance  to  listen.  As  I  was 
coming  up  I  saw  the  first  man  give  the  second 
man  some  money.  Then  the  second  man  looked 
up  and  saw  me,  and  shoving  the  money  into  his 
pocket,  he  dove  across  the  street  and  into  the 
crowd.  That  made  me  feel  sure  it  was  Crabtree, 
and  I  ran  after  him  pell-mell.  I  followed  him 
for  about  half  a  block.  But  the  crowd  was  too 
much  for  me,  and  he  got  away.  I  was  going  to 
tell  a  policeman,  but  then  I  thought  he  couldn't 
do  any  more  than  I  could,  and  I  made  up  my 
mind  I'd  wait  for  you." 

"  What  became  of  the  other  fellow — the  man 
with  the  pointed  chin  ?  " 

"I  don't  know.  He  went  off  somewhere 
while  I  was  after  Crabtree — if  it  was  Crabtree/' 
'answered  Sam. 

"  Show  me  which  way  Crabtree  went,"  saic1 
Dick,  and  the  brothers  walked  in  the  direction 
the  fugitive  had  taken.  But,  though  they  spent 


1 68   THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

over  an  hour  in  looking  for  the  man,   not  a 
trace  of  him  could  be  found. 

"  Well,  this  proves  one  thing  anyway,"  said 
Dick,  as  he  and  Sam  started  on  the  return  to 
the  hotel.  "  Crabtree  is  in  league  with  Pelter, 
Japson  &  Company.  If  he  wasn't,  he  wouldn't 
show  himself  so  close  to  their  offices." 

"Just  what  I  think,"  returned  his  brother. 
"  And  another  thing,  Dick ;  I  think  that  man 
with  the  pointed  chin  is  in  with  the  brokers, 
too." 

"  More  than  likely.  For  all  we  know  he  may 
be  one  of  the  firm ! "  went  on  Dick  suddenly. 
"Wait,  I've  got  an  idea.  I  think  I'll  go  back 
to  those  offices." 

"  And  see  if  the  man  with  the  pointed  chin  is 
there?" 

"  Yes." 

"All  right     Want  me  to  go  back,  too?" 

"You  might  hang  around  as  you  did  before. 
I  don't  know  of  anything  else  to  do." 

The  boys  walked  back,  and  while  Sam  sta- 
tioned himself  in  the  street  Dick  walked  into  the 
office  building  which  he  had  before  visited.  He 
was  just  in  time  to  see  a  boy  come  from  the  ele- 
vator, some  letters  in  his  hand. 

"Their  office  boy,"  he  thought.  "Maybe  I 
can  get  something  out  of  him." 


MORE   DISCOVERIES  ^ 

He  walked  up  to  the  youth  and  nodded  pleas- 
antly. 

"  You're  the  boy  from  Pelter,  Japson  &  Com- 
pany, aren't  you  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yep,"  was  the  laconic  reply. 

"I  want  to  find  a  man  connected  with  your 
concern — I  don't  know  his  name,"  continued 
Dick.  "He  has  a  pointed  chin  and  very  heavy 
eyebrows." 

"  Oh,  you  mean  Mr.  Japson,"  said  the  boy, 
quickly. 

"  Is  that  Mr.  Japson?  "  repeated  Dick,  scarcely 
able  to  suppress  his  astonishment. 

"  Sure  it  is.  He's  got  a  very  long  chin,  and 
his  eyebrows  is  so  heavy  they  come  right  down 
over  his  eyes.  I  don't  see  why  he  don't  cut  'em 
off  some — I  would  quick  enough,"  went  on  the 
office  boy. 

"Is  Mr.  Japson  in  the  offices  now?" 

"  No." 

"Are  you  sure  of  that?  He  was  coming 
down." 

"I  know  it.  But  he  just  telephoned  to  Mr. 
Pelter  that  he  couldn't  come — something  im- 
portant." 

"  How  long  ago  was  this?  " 

"  Oh,  just  a  couple  of  minutes  ago." 

"Is  Mr.   Pelter  there  yet?" 


170       THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  No,  he  went  out  as  soon  as  he  got  the 
message.  Nobody  there  but  a  clerk." 

"When  will  Mr.  Pelter  be  back?" 

"  I  dunno — maybe  not  till  late — or  maybe  not 
till  tomorrow,"  answered  the  office  boy,  and  hur- 
ried away. 

In  a  thoughtful  mood  Dick  rejoined  Sam,  and 
the  pair  this  time  hurried  to  the  subway,  to  get 
a  train  uptown. 

"  I've  found  out  who  the  second  man  was/* 
said  the  oldest  Rover  boy.  "  It  was  Japson,  of 
Pelter,  Japson  &  Company.  Sam,  I  begin  to 
think  this  is  some  deep  game.  This  fellow  Jap- 
son aided  Crabtree  to  escape  from  the  Plank- 
ville  jail  and  in  return  Crabtree  is  aiding  these 
brokers  in  their  efforts  to  get  the  best  of 
father!" 

"  If  we  can  prove  that,  we  ought  to  have  the 
brokers  arrested." 

"  But  we  can't  prove  it,  absolutely.  But  I  am 
convinced  that  I  am  right.  The  office  boy  told 
me  that  Japson  telephoned  to  Pelter  that  he 
could  not  come  in.  More  than  likely  Japson 
was  afraid  you  would  be  on  guard  and  spot  him. 
As  soon  as  Japson  telephoned  in  Pelter  wenj 
out — most  likely  to  meet  his  partner." 

"  And  maybe  to  hunt  up  Crabtree,  Dick." 

"  Perhaps." 


MORE  DISCOVERIES  171 

"  But  what  of  father?  "  went  on  the  youngest 
Rover,  anxiously. 

"  I  can't  answer  that  question,  Sam,  But  it 
is  going  to  be  answered  sooner  or  later — -if  I 
have  to  have  all  those  men  arrested.  I  am  cer- 
tain in  my  own  mind  that  they  are  responsible 
for  dad's  disappearance.  They  got  him  out  of 
the  way  so  that  they  could  get  the  best  of  him 
in  that  Sunset  Irrigation  Company  scheme." 

"  I  think  we  ought  to  watch  the  men  and  see 
where  they  go." 

"  So  do  I.  But,  now  they  know  we  are  on 
guard,  they  will  be  very  careful." 

"Do  you  think  they  had  father  abducted?" 

"That  is  just  what  I  do  think.  If  you'll  re- 
member, that  is  one  of  Crabtree's  favorite 
tricks.  He  would  not  dare  to  put  father  out  of 
the  way — take  his  life,  I  mean — and  that  would 
be  the  only  other  thing  he  could  do." 

"  Where  could  they  take  him  to,  in  such  a  city 
as  this?" 

"Oh,  there  are  a  dozen  places — empty  stores 
and  basements,  vacant  flats  and  apartments. 
And  then  they  may  have  taken  him  away  from 
New  York,  in  an  automobile,  or  on  some  ves- 
sel in  one  of  the  rivers." 

"  I'd  give  a  good  deal  to  know  where  he  is 
now !  "  cried  Sam,  bitterly. 


172        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  So  would  I,  Sam.  Well,  we'll  do  what  we 
can,"  added  Dick,  with  determination. 

It  did  not  take  the  boys  long  to  return  to  the 

Outlook  Hotel.     They  looked  around  for  Tom, 

but  he  was  not  in  sight     However,  he  arrived 

!>a  few  minutes  later.     His  face  showed  that  his 

quest  had  been  an  unsuccessful  one. 

"  I  talked  to  everybody  around  that  end  of 
Central  Park,"  he  said.  "  One  man  saw  Crab- 
tree,  but  he  couldn't  tell  where  the  rascal  went 
to.  Did  you  learn  anything?" 

"  We  did,"  answered  Dick.  "  Come  on  to 
dinner  and  we'll  tell  you." 

While  the  three  ate  a  hasty  midday  meal,  Dick 
and  Sam  told  of  their  discoveries.  Tom  listened 
with  interest. 

"  I  think  you  are  right !  "  he  cried.  "  Crab- 
tree  is  in  with  the  brokers,  and  the  whole  bunch 
is  a  bad  one.  I  think  they  are  holding  dad  a 
prisoner  somewhere.  The  question  is,  Where? 
And  how  can  we  get  to  him  and  rescue  him?  " 

"  We  might  watch  those  offices,"  suggested 
Sam.  "  But  those  fellows  will  be  on  guard,  and 
we  may  not  learn  anything  for  days  and  days." 

"  We  could  have  them  arrested,"  suggested 
Tom.  "  But  it  won't  do  any  good  without  posi- 
tive evidence." 

"  There  is  something  about  this  whole  affair 


MORE   DISCOVERIES  173 

that  I  can't  understand,"  said  Dick.  "That 
man  Pelter  claims  that  he  settled  up  with  father 
for  everything  excepting  this  Irrigation  Com- 
pany project.  Father  never  told  me  that  he 
settled  up — and  I  think  he  would  have  said 
something  if  it  was  so." 

The  three  boys  talked  the  affair  over  from 
every  possible  standpoint,  but  could  arrive  at  no 
satisfactory  conclusion.  All  were  sorry  that 
they  had  not  captured  Josiah  Crabtree. 

"  Let  me  get  my  hands  on  him  and  I'll  make 
him  tell  what  has  become  of  dad,"  said  Dick. 

The  meal  concluded,  they  went  up  to  their 
rooms,  to  talk  the  matter  over  further. 

"  I  suppose  Aunt  Martha  and  Uncle  Randolph 
are  as  anxious,  almost,  as  we  are,"  said  Sam. 
"  Hang  the  luck !  I  wish  old  Crabtree  was 
back  in  jail,  and  Pelter,  Japson  &  Company  were 
with  him! " 

There  was  a  knock  on  the  door  and  a  boy  ap- 
peared with  a  telegram.  It  was  addressed  to 
Dick. 

"  Maybe  it's  from  dad ! "  cried  Sam  and  Tom, 
in  a  breath. 

Dick  tore  open  the  envelope  and  read  the 
message  rapidly.  His  brow  darkened  and  he 
shook  his  head  slowly. 

"  What  does  it  say  ?  "  asked  Sam. 


174       THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"Who  it  is  from?"  added  Tom. 
"It    is    from    Uncle    Randolph,"    answered 
Dick.    Listen!"    And  he  read  as  follows: 

"  Important  news.  Your  father's  signature 
demanded  on  important  documents  inside  of 
three  days,  or  great  financial  loss  and  dishonor  to 
all  of  us. 

"  RANDOLPH  ROVER.* 


CHAPTER  XVII 

AN    IMPORTANT    TELEPHONE    MESSAGE 

" THERE'S  the  answer!"  cried  Tom. 

"  It's  as  plain  as  day ! "  added  Sam. 

"  You  are  right,"  came  from  Dick.  "  I  see  it 
all  now."  He  signed  for  the  telegram  and  dis- 
missed the  boy,  closing  the  door  after  him. 
"  They  are  keeping  father  a  prisoner  somewhere,, 
so  that  he  cannot  sign  those  documents." 

"And  it  means  a  big  financial  loss  and  dis- 
honor to  all  of  us,"  went  on  Tom.  "That 
must  mean  Uncle  Randolph  as  well  as  dad." 

"  I  wish  Uncle  Randolph  had  sent  some  par- 
ticulars," sighed  Sam. 

"  They  may  come  in  by  mail — most  likely  they 
will,"  answered  Dick.  "It  would  be  just  like 
him  to  send  a  letter  and  then  telegraph  after- 
wards." 

"  Well,  one  thing  is  clear,"  remarked  Tom. ; 
**  We  have  got  to  find  dad,  and  do  it  pretty 
quickly,  too.     We  know — or,  at  least,  we  are 
pretty  sure  of  it — that  he  is  in  the  power  of 

175 


f  176        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

Crabtree  and  Pelter,  Japson  &  Company.  Now 
the  question  is,  What  are  we  going  to  do  about 
it?" 

"  I  said  this  morning  I  had  an  idea,  Tom," 
answered  his  big  brother.  "  I  don't  know 
whether  it  will  work  out  or  not,  or  if  you'll  care 
to  try  it.  You  know  I  told  you  to  go  to  Cen- 
tral Park  while  Sam  and  I  went  down  to  those 
offices.  I  did  that  so  that  those  brokers  wouldn't 
see  you.  They  don't  know  you,  and  you  can  go 
down  and  interview  them  as  a  stranger.  Do 
you  catch  the  idea  ?  " 

"I  do!"  cried  Tom,  eagerly.  "And  I'll  do 
it !  But  what  shall  I  say  ?  "  he  asked,  suddenly 
sobering. 

"  You  might  state  that  you  had  heard  of  the 
Sunset  Irrigation  Company  and  thought  of  in- 
vesting, or  something  like  that.  Maybe  they 
might  give  you  some  information  that  would  be 
valuable  for  us.  And,  while  there,  you  may  hear 
something  about  Crabtree,  or  something  about 
where  father  may  be." 

"  I'll  go  this  afternoon,"  cried  Tom.  The  idea 
of  playing  the  spy  pleased  him  greatly. 

"  But  you  want  to  be  careful,"  warned  his 
older  brother.  "If  cornered,  those  brokers  may 
•prove  to  be  desperate  men." 

"  I'll  be  on  my  guard,  Dick." 


AN  IMPORTANT   TELEPHONE   MESSAGE    177 

"  Sam  and  I  can  go  down  part  of  the  way 
with  you,  and  when  you  go  in,  we  can  hang 
around  outside,  one  at  the  upper  and  one  at  the 
lower  street  corner.  Perhaps  by  doing  that, 
we'll  catch  another  sight  of  Crabtree,  although 
I  think,  for  the  present,  he'll  keep  away  from 
Wall  street  and  meet  those  brokers  somewhere 
else,  or  telephone  to  them." 

It  was  not  long  after  this  when  the  three 
Rover  boys  set  out  for  the  lower  part  of  the 
great  metropolis.  They  took  the  subway,  that 
being  the  quickest  way  to  get  there.  Dick  gave 
Tom  directions  how  to  find  the  brokers'  offices, 
and  then  the  brothers  separated  as  agreed. 

Tom  had  fixed  himself  up  for  the  occasion, 
wearing  a  slouch  hat  and  a  flowing  tie.  in  the 
manner  of  a  young  man  from  the  West  or  South. 
He  carried  a  pocket  full  of  timetables  and  an- 
other pocket  full  of  legal-looking  documents.  He 
also  carried  half  a  dozen  visiting  cards,  with 
the  name  and  address: 

Koy  A.  Putnam 
Denver,  Colo. 

With  eyes  on  the  alert  for  the  possible  ap- 
pearance of  somebody  who  might  know  him, 
Tom  walked  into  the  office  building  where  Pelter,, 


178        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

Japson  &  Company  did  business  and  entered  the 
elevator.  He  was  the  only  passenger,  and  ar- 
riving at  the  fourth  floor,  he  found  himself 
salone  in  the  corridor  leading  to  the  brokers'  of- 
fices. 

"  Guess  I'll  listen  a  bit  and  see  if  I  can  hear 
anything,"  he  told  himself,  and  tiptoed  his  way 
to  ,pne  of  the  doors. 

He  listened  intently,  but  the  only  sound  that 
broke  the  stillness  was  the  click  of  a  typewriter 
and  the  occasional  shifting  of  some  papers. 
Then  he  tiptoed  his  way  to  the  next  door,  that 
marked  Private. 

Straining  his  ears,  Tom  caught  the  scratching 
of  a  pen  and  then  a  deep  sigh,  as  if  somebody 
had  just  completed  an  important  bit  of-  work. 
Then  he  heard  the  footsteps  of  a  man.  walking 
from  the  inner  to  the  outer  office. 

"  If  he  comes  out,  I'll  have  to  show  myself," 
thought  the  youth.  But  the  man  did  not  ap- 
pear, instead  Tom  presently  heard  him  return  to 
the  inner  office.  Then  the  telephone  rang  and 
the  man  answered  it. 

"Yes,"  Tom  heard  him  say.  "All  right. 
Wait  a  second,"  And  then  the  man  kicked  shut 
a  door  between  the  offices,  to  assure  himself  of 
privacy. 

There   followed   a  long   wait,    during  which 


AN  IMPORTANT   TELEPHONE   MESSAGE 


179 


time  the  man  in  the  office  was  probably  receiving 
some  message. 

"  Tomorrow  morning?  "  Tom  heard  him  ask. 
"What  time?  Ten  o'clock.  That  is  rather 
I  early,  but  I  can  go  there  directly  from  my  home." 
There  came  another  pause.  "  Leave  that  to 
me,"  cried  the  man.  "I'll  make  him  do  it!" 
He  paused  again.  "  I  am  not  afraid  of  those 
boys,"  he  added.  "I'll  be  there,  sure."  An- 
other pause.  "Yes,  the  boat  is  the  best  place. 
Nobody  can  disturb  us  there.  Good-bye."  And 
then  the  man  hung  up  the  telephone  receiver. 

Tom  had  taken  in  every  word  that  the  man 
said.  If  it  was  Pelter  he  must  be  talking  to 
Japson,  or  Crabtree,  or  somebody  else  in  the  af- 
fair. And  Tom  did  not  doubt  but  what  by 
"  those  boys  "  the  man  had  meant  himself  and 
his  brothers. 

"  And  when  he  said,  '  I'll  make  him  do  it/ 
he  must  have  been  speaking  of  father,"  he  rea- 
soned. "  And  he  mentioned  a  boat.  Maybe 
they  have  dad  on  a  boat." 

Tom  waited  for  some  time  longer  in  the  cor- 
ridor, but  nothing  of  importance  occurred. 
Then  he  stepped  loudly  to  the  main  door  of  the 
offices  and  entered. 

The  same  boy  Dick  had  met  was  there  and 
asked  him  what  he  wanted. 


l8o        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  I  want  to  see  about  some  shares  in  the  Sun- 
set Irrigation  Company,"  answered  Tom. 
"  Anybody  in  I  can  talk  to  ?  "  And  he  handed 
out  one  of  the  cards  he  had  fixed  up. 

"  I'll  see,"  answered  the  office  boy,  and  disap- 
peared into  the  inner  office  with  the  card. 

A  moment  later  Jesse  Pelter  appeared,  hold- 
ing- the  card  in  his  hand.  He  smiled  pleasantly. 

"  Glad  to  meet  you,  Mr.  Putnam,"  he  said, 
bowing.  "  I  am  Mr.  Pelter.  I'll  be  glad  to  let 
you  know  all  about  our  Irrigation  Company  and 
its  prospects." 

He  ushered  Tom  into  his  private  office  and  of- 
fered him  a  chair. 

"  Want  to  make  an  investment  for  your- 
self ?  "  he  said,  suggestively. 

"  If  it's  a  good  one,"  returned  Tom,  with  an 
assumed  grin.  "  A  fellow  who  comes  into  a  fat 
legacy  has  got  to  do  something,  hasn't  he?  " 

"  Surest  thing  you  know,"  responded  Jesse 
Pelter.  "  And  this  Irrigation  Company  of  ours 
is  the  best  thing  in  the  world  for  rapid  money 
making,"  he  continued.  "Just  come  on  from 
Denver,  Mr.  Putnam?  " 

"  I've  been  in  New  York  a  couple  of  days," 
answered  Tom.  "  I  want  to  look  around  a  bit 
before  I  invest  anything.  I  heard  something  of 
this  company  before  I  reached  here." 


AN  IMPORTANT   TELEPHONE   MESSAGE    i&i 

"  No  doubt !  No  doubt !  It  is  a  big  thing, 
and  our  rivals  are  all  watching  and  envying  us. 
Did  you  get  our  printed  prospectus?" 

"  No,  but  I  saw  one  somewhere,  some  time 
ago." 

"  Here  you  have  it,  with  a  map  of  the  prop- 
erty. The  shares  are  now  selling  at  sixty-five, 
but  next  week  I  think  we'll  have  to  advance 
them  to  seventy  or  seventy-five,  owing  to  the 
demand." 

"  Could  a  fellow  buy  five  thousand  dollars' 
worth  at  sixty-five? "  asked  Tom,  trying  to 
show  an  interest. 

"  You  could,  if  you  were  quick  about  it" 

"  Well,  I  want  to  know  something  more  about 
this  property  first,"  continued  Tom.  "  I  don't 
want  to  throw  any  money  away." 

"  Quite  right.  I  see  you  are  a  level-headed 
young  man  and  that  is  the  kind  I  like  to  deal 
with.  We'll  go  over  this  matter  carefully." 
And  then  Jesse  Pelter  plunged  into  the  details 
of  the  irrigation  scheme,  showing  up  its  many 
good  points,  and  how,  in  the  near  future,  it  was 
bound  to  make  a  lot  of  money  for  all  who  in- 
vested in  it. 

"And  you  have  the  shares  to  sell?"  asked 
Tom. 

"Oh,  yes." 


"  Do  you  own  the  property,  Mr.  Pelter?  " 

"  Our  company  owns  it — that  is,  we  have  a 
controlling  interest  in  it." 

"  There  are  no  other  big  stockholders  ?  " 

"  None  at  all.  We  have  invested  heavily, — ' 
buying  out  the  old  company  and  reorganizing  it. 
All  of  the  other  stockholders  are  small  ones. 
You  see,  we  have  such  faith  in  this  scheme  that 
we  don't  want  to  let  too  much  stock  get  away 
from  us." 

Tom  did  not  see,  but  he  did  not  say  so.  Not 
a  word  had  been  said  about  Mr.  Rover  and  his 
interest — Mr.  Pelter  ignored  Tom's  father  en- 
tirely. And  yet  the  youth  know  that  his  par- 
ent had  fifty  thousand  dollars  or  more  tied  up 
in  that  very  company! 

"  I'd  like  to  know  some  of  the  people  who 
have  invested  in  this  stock,"  said  Tom,  after 
the  matter  had  been  talked  over  for  nearly  an 
hour. 

"  I  will  give  you  some  names,"  was  the  brok- 
er's reply,  and  he  wrote  them  down.  "  They 
are  the  principal  stockholders  outside  of  our- 
selves." 

Tom  took  the  list  and  glanced  at  it.  His 
father's  name  did  not  appear,  nor  did  the  names 
of  two  other  men  he  knew  were  interested  in 
the  concern. 


AN   IMPORTANT    TELEPHONE    MESSAGE     183 

"  Thank  you,"  said  the  youth,  rising.  "  I  will 
look  into  this.  It  might  be  a  good  investment  for 
me." 

"  Finest  in  the  world,"  returned  Jesse  Pelter. 
"  Better  let  me  put  you  down  for  five  thousand 
dollars'  worth  of  shares  to-day." 

"  No,  I  want  to  think  it  over  first." 

"  Supposing  I  hold  the  shares  for  you  un- 
til to-morrow  ? "  went  on  the  broker,  per- 
suasively. 

"You  can  do  that,  if  you  wish,"  answered 
Tom. 

"  Do  you  want  to  leave  a  deposit  on  them?  " 

"  I  didn't  bring  any  money  with  me — that  is, 
not  enough." 

"  You  might  write  out  a  check,  Mr.  Putnam." 

*5  No,  I'll  think  it  over  first." 

"  Then  I'll  hold  the  shares  and  look  for  you 
to-morrow,"  returned  Jesse  Pelter,  somewhat 
disappointedly.  He  loved  to  get  his  hands  on 
another's  money  at  the  first  interview.  "  Please 
come  in  after  lunch,"  he  added.  "  I  have  ar 
important  engagement  for  the  morning." 

With  the  map  and  prospectus  and  list  of 
'names  in  his  pocket,  Tom  left  the  offices.  He- 
saw  that  the  man  with  the  pointed  chin  and 
heavy  eyebrows  was  not  present.  The  forct 
consisted  of  Mr.  Pelter,  the  office  boy,  a  .girl  a* 


1 84        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

a  typewriter,  and  a  very  old  man  who  was  at 
the  books. 

"Japson  must  be  keeping  out  of  the  way/' 
mused  Tom,  as  he  descended  to  the  street.  "  I 
wonder  if  it  was  he  or  old  Crabtree  who  talked 
to  Pelter  over  the  'phone?  " 

Tom  soon  rejoined  his  brothers  and  all  three 
walked  away  from  the  vicinity  of  Wall  street. 
The  youth  told  of  his  interview  with  the  broker, 
and  of  the  talk  he  had  overheard  while  Jesse 
Pelter  was  at  the  telephone. 

"  They  must  have  been  talking  about  father !  " 
cried  Dick,  eagerly. 

"  Maybe  they  have  him  a  prisoner  on  a  boat ! " 
added  Sam. 

"  It  looks  that  way  to  me,"  said  Tom.  "  And 
I  know  what  I  think  we  ought  to  do,"  he  con- 
tinued. 

"So  do  I,"  answered  Dick,  quickly.  " Watch 
this  Pelter  to-morrow,  when  he  leaves  his  home, 
and  see  where  he  goes  to." 

"  Right  you  are." 

"Where  does  he  live?"  questioned  Sam. 

"  I  don't  know,  but  we  can  easily  find  out.'? 

The  boys  presently  passed  an  office  building 
in  which  there  was  a  large  telephone  station, 
and  there  they  hunted  up  Jesse  Pelter's  home 
address. 


IMPORTANT    TELEPHONE    MESSAGE     185 

"  He  lives  up  in  the  Bronx/'  said  Dick,  taking 
down  the  street  and  number.  "  We  can  find  out 
up  at  the  hotel  how  to  reach  the  place.  Let  us 
go  back  to  the  Outlook  and  see  if  there  is  any 
.etter  from  home.  Maybe  we'll  get  more  news 
about  that  financial  loss  mentioned  in  that  tele- 
gram." 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

ON    THE    HUDSON    RIVER 

WHEN  the  boys  returned  to  the  Outlook  Hotel 
they  found  several  letters  awaiting  them.  There 
was  one  each  from  the  girls  and  also  a  commu- 
nication from  Songbird,  written  partly  in  verse, 
and  telling  of  matters  at  Brill. 

But  the  letter  that  interested  them  most  just 

.then  was  one   from  their  Uncle   Randolph,    in 

i  which  he  explained   something  of  the  financial 

;  matters  mentioned  in  the  telegram.     Their  uncle 

was  not  a  good  business  man,  and  often  got  his 

statements  mixed,  but  from  the  communication 

the  boys  learned  the  truth. 

There  were  two  matters  of  importance — the 
irrigation  scheme  and  the  purchase  of  a  large 
tract  of  land  which  would  be  benefited  by  the 
flow  of  water,  when  the  irrigation  plant  was  put 
into  operation.  In  both  of  the  schemes  the  Rov- 
ers held  large  interests — that  is,  they  held  what 
were  called  options,  for  which  Anderson  Rover 
had  put  up  large  sums  of  money,  and  he  had 

186 


ON   THE   HUDSON   RIVER  187 

likewise  induced  some  friends  to  let  him  put  up 
money  for  them.  In  order  to  clinch  their  hold 
on  the  two  business  propositions  Anderson  Rover 
must  sign  certain  papers  and  have  them  delivered 
to  the  right  parties  inside  of  the  next  three  days. , 
Should  he  fail  to  do  this,  then  his  options  on  the 
property  would  terminate,  and  Pelter,  Japson  & 
Company  would  be  able  to  step  in  and  gain  con- 
trol. The  brokers  had  at  first  tried  to  gain  con- 
trol by  getting  Anderson  Rover  to  assign  his  in- 
terest in  the  options,  but  this  the  boys'  father 
had  refused  to  do. 

"  And  now  that  father  wouldn't  turn  the  con- 
trol over  to  them,  they  have  had  him  kidnapped, 
so  that  he  can't  sign  those  papers  and  serve 
them,"  said  Dick.  "  The  case  is  as  plain  ?* 
day." 

"And  they  got  old  Crabtree  to  manage  the 
kidnapping,"  put  in  Tom. 

"But  how  did  they  know  about  Crabtree?" 
asked  Sam. 

"Most  likely  he  has  been  mixed  up  in  some 
of  their  shady  transactions  of  the  past,"  re- 
plied Dick.  "  When  he  got  in  jail,  he  sent  for 
Japson  and  made  him  fix  it  up  'so  'he  could 
escape.  That  fire  helped  the  rascals.  Then 
both  came  down  to  New  York,  and  all  hands 
tiatched  the  plot  to  put  dad  out  of  the  way." 


J88        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

*'  Poor  dad !  If  only  we  knew  he  was  safe !  " 
murmured  Tom. 

"  That's  just  it — he  may  be  suffering  terri- 
bly!" added  Sam. 

"  I  think  we'll  find  out  something  definite  to- 
morrow— when  we  follow  Pelter,"  said  Dick. 
He,  too,  was  greatly  worried. 

The  evening  proved  a  long  one  to  the  boys, 
even  though  they  spent  some  time  in  penning 
letters  to  the  girls  and  to  the  folks  at  home. 
Dick  had  received  a  most  sympathetic  letter 
from  Dora,  in  which  the  girl  stated  that  she 
wished  she  was  with  him  to  help  him. 

"  Dear  Dora!  "  he  murmured,  as  he  placed  the 
letter  in  his  pocket.  "  I  wish  all  this  trouble 
•was  over,  and  we  could  be  married  and  go  off 
on  our  honeymoon !  " 

The  boys  had  found  out  from  the  hotel  clerk 
how  to  reach  the  address  in  the  Bronx,  as  the 
upper  portion  of  New  York  city  is  locally  called. 
They  could  take  a  subway  train  to  within  two 
blocks  of  Pelter's  home. 

They  were  up  bright  and  early,  and  after  a 
hasty  breakfast  went  out  to  a  nearby  store, 
where  all  purchased  variously-colored  caps  of  the 
automobile  variety,  and  also  some  automobile 
goggles. 

"  We'll  pass  for  chauffeurs  in  a  crowd,"  said 


ON    THE   HUDSON   RIVER  189 

Dick.    "  The  goggles  will  change  our  appearance, 
even  if  we  only  wear  'em  on  our  foreheads." 

They  were  soon  on  a  subway  train  and  being 
whirled  northward.  The  train  was  an  express, 
making  but  few  stops,  and  almost  before  they 
knew  it,  the  guard  called  out  their  station. 

Dick  had  consulted'  a  street  map  at  the  hotel, 
so  he  knew  exactly  how  to  turn.  They  easily 
located  the  apartment  house  in  which  Jesse  Pel- 
ter  resided,  and  then  stopped  at  a  nearby  corner 
to  await  his  appearance. 

"  We  have  got  to  be  very  careful  how  we  fol- 
low him,"  said  Dick.  "If  he  spots  us,  it  will 
be  all  up  with  us.  I  think  Sam  had  better  go 
first.  I  will  follow,  and  Tom,  you  can  bring 
up  the  rear.  And  let  us  all  act  as  if  we  were 
perfect  strangers  to  each  other." 

Then  came  a  wait  of  nearly  half  an  hour.  At 
last  they  saw  the  front  door  of  the  apartment 
open  and  several  men  came  out.  Two  of  the 
men  turned  in  one  direction  and  the  other  man 
hurried  off  alone. 

"  There  he  is— there's  Pelter !  "  cried  Dick,  in 
a  low  voice.  "  Now,  Sam,  see  to  it  that  he 
doesn't  get  out  of  your  sight." 

"  I'll  do  my  best,"  answered  the  youngest 
Rover,  and  walked  off  after  the  broker. 

As  Jesse  Pelter  hurried  along  he  consulted 


190        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

his  watch.  Then  he  hastened  his  steps,  making 
his  way  to  the  nearest  railroad  station.  He 
boarded  a  train,  and  the  boys  followed,  Sam  get- 
ting in  the  same  car  with  the  broker  and  Dick 
and  Tom  entering  the  next  car,  but  keeping  in 
sight  of  their  brother. 

A  number  of  stations  were  passed  and  then 
the  broker  left  the  train  and  the  boys  did  like- 
wise. On  the  street  Jesse  Pelter  called  a  cab 
that  was  handy  and  entered  it. 

"Say,  this  looks  as  if  we  might  lose  him!" 
cried  Dick,  in  alarm.  Then  he  chanced  to  see 
another  cab,  and  hurried  to  it,  waving  for  Tom 
and  Sam  to  do  the  same.  He  ordered  the  driver 
to  keep  the  first  turnout  in  sight,  but  not  to  get 
too  close. 

"  I  can  do  that  with  ease,"  said  the  driver, 
with  a  broad  grin.  "  It's  Jerry  Dillon's  cab, 
and  Jerry's  horse  is  no  good  at  all." 

The  two  cabs  rolled  on  for  several  blocks,  and 
then  the  first  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  Hud- 
son River.  It  halted  near  the  railroad,  and 
Jesse  Pelter  sprang  to  the  ground.  He  paid  the 
driver  of  the  cab  and  dismissed  him.  Then  he 
hurried  along  the  railroad  on  foot. 

"  I  guess  he  is  going  up  to  the  dock  yonder," 
said  Tom,  while  the  boys  got  out. 

"Looks  like  it,"  answered  Dick. 


ON    THE    HUDSON   RIVER 


191 


All  left  the  cab  and  hurried  after  Jesse  Pelter, 
who  was  now  all  but  out  of  sight.  He  passed 
between  two  buildings  and  the  boys  followed  him 
slowly. 

"Wait!"  cried  Dick  presently.     "Look!" 

"  Why,  it's  Crabtree !  "  exclaimed  Sam,  as  an- 
other figure  came  into  view — that  of  a  heavily- 
bearded  man  with  a  slouch  hat. 

"Exactly,"  returned  Dick.  "Now  keep 
back,  or  we  may  spoil  everything,"  he  continued, 
cautiously. 

The  three  boys  saw  Pelter  and  Josiah  Crab- 
tree  converse  earnestly  for  several  minutes.  The 
man  who  had  escaped  from  jail  pointed  to  a  big 
bundle  he  carried  and  Pelter  nodded.  Then 
both  walked  slowly  across  the  railroad  tracks  to 
a  dock  jutting  out  into  the  Hudson. 

At  the  dock  lay  a  rowboat,  with  a  man  who 
looked  like  a  sailor  at  the  oars.  Pelter  and  Crab- 
tree  climbed  down  into  the  boat,  which  was 
quickly  shoved  away.  Then  the  sailor  took  up 
the  oars  and  commenced  to  row  out  into  the 
broad  river. 

"  Now  we  are  stumped ! "  murmured  Tom,  as 
he  and  his  brothers  watched  the  departure  of  the 
rowboat  from  behind  a  shed  at  the  inner  end  of 
the  dock. 

"  Let  us  watch  that  rowboat  as  far  as  we  can," 


192        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

returned  Dick.  "  I  don't  believe  they  intend  to 
row  very  far." 

"  Maybe  they  are  going  to  one  of  the  ves- 
sels anchored  out  yonder,"  remarked  Sam. 

"More  than   likely." 

The  sailor  was  pulling  up  the  stream,  close  to 
the  shore,  and  the  brothers  could  watch  him  with 
ease.  The  tide  was  running  out  and  the  oars- 
man had  all  he  could  do  to  make  any  headway. 

"If  he  is  going  to  keep  to  the  shore,  we  might 
follow  him  on  foot,"  suggested  Tom,  after  sev- 
eral minutes  had  passed,  and  while  the  rowboat 
was  still  clearly  in  view. 

"  He  is  turning  out  now !  "  cried  Dick.  "  See, 
I  think  he  is  making  for  yonder  two-masted 
schooner." 

The  rowboat  had  turned  out  and  in  a  few 
minutes  more  the  boys  felt  certain  it  was  headed 
for  the  schooner. 

"  Oh,  if  we  only  had  a  rowboat ! "  groaned 
Tom. 

Dick  did  not  reply.  He  was  watching  a  steam 
tug  that  had  come  up  the  river.  A.  line  had 
been  thrown  from  the  tug  to  the  schooner  and 
made  fast. 

"  The  steam  tug  is  going  to  tow  her  down  the 
river !  "  exclaimed  Sam.  "  Oh,  Dick,  what  shall 
we  do?" 


ON    THE   HUDSON   RIVER  I93 

*'  Dad  may  be  on  that  schooner ! "  supple- 
mented Tom. 

Dick  gazed  up  and  down  the  stream.  A 
rowboat  was  coming  along,  manned  by  two 
boys.  Dick  gave  the  lads  a  hail. 

"  Hi!  want  to  earn  a  dollar  quick?"  he  asked. 

"How?"  questioned  both  lads,  in  a  breath, 

"  See  that  schooner?  We  want  to  get  on 
board  of  her  as  quickly  as  possible." 

"All  right — but  let  us  see  the  dollar  first," 
answered  one  of  the  lads,  shrewdly. 

The  rowboat  came  to  the  dock  and  the  three 
Rovers  leaped  on  board.  Dick  produced  a  dol- 
lar bill,  and  the  boys  commenced  to  row  with 
all  the  power  at  their  command. 

In  the  meantime  the  first  rowboat  had  reached 
the  schooner's  side  and  the  men  and  the  sailor 
had  gone  on  board.  The  boat  was  tied  fast  to 
the  stern  and  orders  were  given  to  the  captain 
of  the  tug  to  go  ahead. 

"  Stop !  stop !  You  rascals ! "  cried  Tom,  as 
the  schooner  commenced  to  move  down  the  Hud- 
son. And  in  his  anger  he  shook  his  fist  at  those 
on  the  vessel. 

At  first  the  actions  of  the  boys  attracted  no 
attention.  Then  there  was  a  stir  on  the  rear 
deck  of  the  craft. 

"  Somebody  in   a  rowboat,   calling  to   you,", 


194        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

remarked  the  captain  of  the  schooner,  to  Josiah 
Crabetree. 

"To  me?"  exclaimed  the  former  teacher,  in 
surprise.  "  I  will  see  about  this." 

He  hurried  to  the  stern  of  the  schooner.  The 
rowboat  with  the  Rovers  had  now  come  quite 
close.  Josiah  Crabtree  gave  a  start. 

"Can  it  be  possible?"  he  gasped. 

"What  is  it?"  asked  Jesse  Pelter,  who  had 
stepped  up. 

"  Those  young  men  in  yonder  boat !  Unless 
I  am  mistaken  they  are  Anderson  Rover's  sons !  " 

"  Is  it  possible !  "  ejaculated  the  broker.  "  Oh, 
there  must  be  some  mistake." 

"  No,  no !  I  know  them  well !  And  see,  they 
are  motioning  to  us !  They  want  us  to  stop ! " 

"  They  must  have  seen  and  followed  us !  " 
said  the  broker,  and  his  manner  showed  his  sud- 
den fear. 

"Want  to  take  those  fellows  on  board?" 
questioned  the  captain  of  the  schooner. 

"No!  no!"  cried  Josiah  Crabtree.  "Tell 
the  captain  of  the  tug  to  hurry  up!  That  we — > 
er — that  we  must  make  better  time !  " 

"  I  will,  sir,"  said  the  captain  of  the  schooner, 
and  hurried  forward  to  give  the  necessary  or- 
der. 

A  big  steamboat  was  passing  up  the  river  and 


ON   THE   HUDSON   RIVER  195 

the  wash  from  this  sent  the  rowboat  containing 
the  Rover  boys  dancing  up  and  down.  The  lads 
at  the  oars  headed  the  craft  to  meet  the  rollers, 
and  the  schooner  passed  further  and  further 
away. 

"  They  are  leaving  us ! "  groaned  Sam.  "  Oh, 
what  luck ! " 

"  Mr.  Rover ! "  yelled  Dick,  at  the  top  of  his 
lungs.  "Are  you  on  board?  Rover!  Ander- 
son Rover !  It's  Dick !  Dick ! " 

For  fully  a  minute  no  answer  came  back. 
Then  there  was  a  commotion  on  the  deck  of  the 
schooner  and  a  man  appeared,  clad  in  a  torn 
suit  of  clothing  and  hatless. 

"Dick!  Where  are  you?"  was  the  exclama- 
tion, and  the  man  rushed  to  the  stern  of  the 
craft.  "Dick!  And  Tom  and  Sam!  Help 
me!" 

"It's  father!"  yelled  Dick.  "Stop  that 
schooner !  Stop  her,  I  say !  " 

"  Get  back  there !  "  exclaimed  Josiah  Crabtree, 
catching  Mr.  Rover  by  the  arm.  "  Get  back,  I 
say!  Help  me,  somebody!  This  man  is 
crazy !  " 

He  and  Jesse  Pelter  hustled  Anderson  Rover 
back,  and  then  the  boys  saw  their  father  disap- 
pear from  view.  Swiftly  the  tug  and  the 
schooner  gathered  headway.  The  boys  shouted 


196        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

in  vain.  They  looked  around  for  some  other 
boat  to  come  to  their  aid,  but  none  was  in  sight. 
Then  the  schooner  passed  down  the  Hudson 
River  and  the  Rover  boys  were  left  in  the  row- 
boat,  gazing  at  each  other  in  dismay. 


CHAPTER    XIX 

THE    SEARCH    FOR    THE    SCHOONER 

~  ANYWAY,  we  have  got  the  name  of  the 
schooner,"  remarked  Sam,  after  a  moment  of 
silence.  "  She's  the  Ellen  Rodney" 

"  And  we  ought  to  be  able  to  follow  her  some- 
how," added  Tom. 

"We  must!"  cried  Dick.  "Let  us  get  to 
shore  and  see  what  we  can  do." 

"Don't  we  get  that  dollar?"  queried  one  of 
the  boys  who  rowed  the  boat. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Dick,  and  handed  the  money 
over.  "  Now  get  us  to  shore  as  quickly  as  pos- 
sible." 

"If  you  want  to  catch  that  schooner,  why 
<lon't  you  go  downtown  after  her?"  asked  the 
second  boy  of  the  rowboat 

"Just  what  I  was  thinking  of  doing,"  an- 
swered Dick.  "  I  think  we  can  get  down  there 
ahead  of  them.  The  only  question  is,  Can  we 
get  anybody  down  there  to  go  out  after  the 
schooner? " 

"  You  can  get  a  boat  at  the  Battery,  if  you're 
197 


198        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

willing  to  pay  for  it.  Plenty  of  tug  captains 
down  there  looking  for  jobs." 

"  Then  we'll  get  to  the  Battery  as  fast  as  pos- 
sible," said  Tom. 

The  boys  who  had  been  rowing  the  boat  were 
tired,  so  Tom  and  Dick  took  the  oars,  and  thus 
the  little  craft  was  speedily  brought  back  to  the 
dock  from  which  it  had  started. 

"  You  can  get  an  elevated  train  over  there," 
said  one  of  the  boys,  pointing  with  his  hand. 
"  It  will  take  you  right  to  the  Battery." 

The  Rover  boys  lost  no  time  in  leaving  the 
dock  and  crossing  the  railroad  tracks.  Then 
they  fairly  ran  to  the  nearest  station  of  the  ele- 
vated railroad.  Dick  purchased  the  tickets  and 
dropped  them  in  the  box.  Then  came  a  wait  of 
several  minutes  on  the  platform. 

'  Train  for  South  Ferry ! "  called  out  the 
guard,  as  a  rumble  was  heard. 

"Does  that  go  to  the  Battery?"  questioned 
Dick. 

"  Sure." 

The  boys  piled  on  board  and  away  swept  the 
line  of  cars,  on  the  way  downtown.  But  it  was 
a  local  train,  making  all  the  stops,  so  their  prog- 
ress was  not  as  fast  as  they  wished. 

Here  and  there,  through  the  cross  streets,  they 
caught  sight  of  the  glistening  river,  with  its  nu- 


THE  SEARCH  FOR  THE  SCHOONER 


199 


tnerous  craft.  Once  Tom  thought  he  saw  the 
Ellen  Rodney,  but  at  that  distance  he  could  not 
be  sure. 

At  last  the  train  swept  around  a  curve  into 
the  Battery,  as  the  little  park  at  the  extreme 
lower  point  of  the  great  metropolis  is  called. 
Here  were  located  several  ferries  and  also  some 
shipping  offices,  as  well  as  the  Aquarium.  Dick 
almost  ran  to  the  nearest  shipping  office. 

"  I  want  to  stop  a  schooner  that  is  coming 
down  the  Hudson  River,"  he  said,  to  the  clerk 
in  charge.  "  Can  I  hire  a  boat  around  here  to 
take  me  out?  " 

"Anything  wrong?"  lasked  the  clerk,  curi- 
ously. 

"  Yes,  very  much  wrong." 

"  In  that  case,  why  don't  you  put  the  harbor 
police  on  the  job?" 

"Can  I  get  them  handy?" 

"Yes,  the  office  is  up  there,"  and  the  man 
pointed  it  out. 

"  Thanks,"  returned  Dick,  and  headed  for  the 
place  in  question,  with  Tom  and  Sam  at  his 
heels. 

An  officer  was  in  charge  of  the  office  of  the 
harbor  police  and  he  listened  with  interest  to 
what  the  boys  had  to  tell. 

"  This  is  certainly  a  serious  matter,"  he  said,  , 


200       THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

when  they  had  finished.  "Those  men  are  ac- 
tually kidnapping  your  father — in  fact,  they  have 
already  kidnapped  him.  We'll  have  to  get  after 
them." 

"  You  have  a  boat  handy  ?  " 

"  Yes,  several  of  'em." 

The  officer  touched  a  bell  and  another  man  in 
uniform  appeared.  He  was  given  some  instruc- 
tions, and  then  the  second  man  told  the  Rover 
boys  to  follow  him.  He  led  the  way  to  a  dock 
where  a  steam  tug  lay,  the  smoke  pouring  from 
the  funnel. 

"  Quick  work  here,  Andy ! "  he  cried,  to  an 
officer  on  board.  "  We've  got  to  catch  a 
schooner  coming  down  the  river — the  Ellen  Rod- 
ney. Do  you  know  her  ?  " 

"  I've  seen  her,"  was  the  answer,  from  the 
tug  officer. 

"  The  fellows  on  board  the  schooner  are  kid- 
napping the  father  of  these  boys.  I  reckon  it's 
a  serious  case — a  money  affair,"  he  added,  in  a 
lower  tone. 

"Who  is  the  man?" 

"  Anderson  Rover  is  his  name.  If  you  finely 
him,  and  the  boys  make  a  charge,  place  all  hands 
under  arrest." 

"  I  will." 

The  steam  tug  was  fully  manned,  carrying  at 


THE  SEARCH  FOR  THE  SCHOONER   2OI 

crew  and  several  police  officers.  The  Rover  boys 
were  told  to  get  aboard,  and  the  tug  was  headed 
out  into  the  Hudson,  or,  as  here  called,  the 
North,  River. 

"  You  don't  suppose  they  have  passed  here,  dc 
you?"  questioned  the  captain  of  the  tug. 

"  I  don't  think  so — unless  that  towing  tug  was 
an  extra  fast  one,"  answered  Dick. 

"  They  wouldn't  dare  to  run  too  fast,  with  so 
many  ferryboats  crossing  the  river.  It  would  be 
too  dangerous." 

The  police  tug  swept  out  into  the  bay  and 
then  started  slowly  up  the  river,  moving  from 
one  shore  to  the  other.  The  police  officer  in 
charge  had  a  pair  of  glasses  and  he  used  these 
on  the  various  craft  that  came  into  view,  and 
also  allowed  the  boys  to  use  them. 

"  Ought  to  be  along  soon,"  said  Tom,  after  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  had  passed.  "  It  took 
us  quite  some  time  to  get  down  here,  you 
know." 

"  Maybe  they  didn't  come  down  the  river," 
suggested  the  officer. 

"  Didn't  come  down  ?  "  cried  Sam.  "  What  do 
you  mean?  " 

"  Maybe  they  thought  you  would  come  down 
here  and  wait  for  them  and  so  changed  their 
plans  and  went  up  the.  river  instead." 


202        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  That's  so !  "  exclaimed  Tom.  "  They  might 
do  that." 

"  Well,  if  they  went  up  the  river,  we  ought  to 
be  able  to  catch  them  sooner  or  later,"  put  in 
Dick. 

"  Let  us  hope  so,"  returned  the  officer. 

Soon  they  had  passed  up  the  river  to  a  point 
opposite  the  Twenty-third  Street  ferries.  Here 
a  number  of  boats  were  moving  up  and  down 
the  stream,  and  from  the  Hoboken  shore  a  big 
trans-Atlantic  steamer  was  coming  out,  to  start 
on  its  trip  across  the  ocean. 

"  That  looks  like  her ! "  cried  Sam,  pointing 
to  a  craft  behind  the  trans-Atlantic  steamer 

"  So  it  does !  "  returned  Tom. 

They  made  a  semi-circle,  other  boats  giving 
way  to  the  police  tug.  But  when  they  got  closer 
to  the  schooner  in  question,  all  the  Rover  boys 
uttered  a  cry  of  dismay.  It  was  a  craft  similar 
to  the  Ellen  Rodney,  but  that  was  all. 

"  Either  we  missed  her  or  else  the  schooner 
went  up  the  river,"  said  Dick,  at  last. 

"  Looks  that  way,"  returned  Tom,  with  a  sigh. 

They  continued  to  move  up  the  stream,  scan- 
ning each  shore  closely.  They  passed  numerous 
boats,  but  not  one  that  looked  like  the  craft  they 
were  after. 

"  Well,  here  we  are,  at  the  spot  where  Crab- 


THE  SEARCH  FOR  THE  SCHOONER 


203 


tree  and  Pelter  got  aboard,"  said  Dick,  a  while 
later.  "  So,  either  we  have  missed  them,  or  else 
the  Ellen  Rodney  went  up  the  river  instead  of 
down." 

The  boys  were  much  disheartened,  for  they 
had  thought  that  the  police  tug  would  surely 
locate  the  craft  and  that  they  would  thus  be  able 
to  come  to  their  father's  rescue.  They  scarcely 
knew  what  to  do  next. 

"  I'll  go  up  the  river  a  bit  further,  if  you  say 
so,"  said  the  police  officer  in  charge  of  the  tug. 

(f  Perhaps  we  had  better  run  down  first  and 
make  another  search  on  our  second  trip,"  sug- 
gested Dick.  "  I  shouldn't  like  them  to  get  out 
into  the  Bay  and  give  us  the  slip." 

The  tug  was  turned  back,  and  a  little  later 
they  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  Battery  once 
more.  Then  began  another  search  up  the  river, 
from  shore  to  shore,  as  before.  But  not  a  trace 
of  the  schooner  could  be  found. 

"  Must  have  gone  up  the  river,"  said  the  police 
official.  "  We'll  try  it  for  a  way  and  see." 

This  they  did,  the  police  tug  moving  from 
side  to  side  as  before. 

"This  is  the  end  of  it,  so  far  as  we  are  con- 
cerned," said  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  tug,  at 
last.  "We  don't  go  up  the  river  any  further 
than  this." 


204        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"  All  right  then,"  answered  Dick,  much  dis- 
heartened. "  I  guess  the  only  thing  for  you  to 
do  is  to  put  us  ashore." 

"  Sorry  we  couldn't  find  that  schooner.  Of 
course,  if  you'll  make  a  regular  charge  against 
these  men  we'll  send  word  up  the  river  to  be  on 
the  lookout  for  them." 

"  We'll  make  the  charge,"  answered  Dick. 

The  steam  tug  turned  in  on  the  New  York 
City  side  and  the  Rover  boys  went  ashore. 

"  I'll  make  the  regular  charge  a  little  later," 
said  Dick.  "  It  may  be  that  I'll  have  some  men 
in  the  city  arrested  first."  And  then  he  and  his 
brothers  moved  off,  after  receiving  instructions 
from  the  police  official  as  to  what  might  be  best 
to  do. 

"Are  you  going  to  have  Japson  arrested?" 
asked  Sam. 

"  If  I  can  find  him.  But  I  guess  he'll  keep 
out  of  sight  for  the  present,  Sam.  You  must 
remember  one  thing — these  rascals  only  want  to 
keep  dad  a  prisoner  for  three  days.  After  that 
they  will  let  him  go — and  then  it  will  be  too  late 
to  save  that  property." 

"  Would  that  be  so  if  we  could  prove  that 
dad  had  been  kept  a  prisoner?  "  asked  Tom,  with 
much  anxiety. 

"  I  don't  know.  Another  thing,  they  may 
make  dad  sign  certain  papers.  Don't  you  re- 


THE  SEARCH  FOR  THE  SCHOONER   2O$ 

member  Pelter  said  over  the  telephone  that  he 
would  '  make  him  do  it '  ?  They'll  force  father 
into  something — if  they  can." 

"  Well,  what's  our  next  move  ?  "  asked  Sam, 
impatiently. 

"  As  it  is  after  noon,  we  had  better  visit  a 
quick  lunch  room  and  get  a  bit  to  eat.  Then  I 
think  we  had  better  hire  some  private  tug  to 
take  us  up  the  river.  I  am  almost  certain  now 
that  the  Ellen  Rodney  went  that  way." 

"If  she  went  up  the  river  she  might  go  all 
the  way  to  Albany,"  said  Tom. 

"  Possibly,  but  I  think  those  rascals  would  be 
too  afraid  to  do  that.  They'll  leave  the  schooner 
at  the  first  chance  they  get,  and  take  father  with 
them." 

The  boys  did  not  have  to  walk  far  before 
they  came  to  a  small  shedlike  building  display- 
ing the  sign,  "  Quick  Lunch."  They  entered  and 
ordered  some  sandwiches,  pie,  and  coffee.  While 
they  were  eating  they  questioned  the  proprietor 
about  some  craft  to  take  them  up  the  river. 

"We  are  hunting  for  a  schooner,"  explained 
Dick.  "  We  don't  know  just  where  she  is. 
We'll  pay  somebody  well  for  finding  her  for 
us." 

"  I  know  a  young  fellow  who  owns  a  motor- 
boat,"  said  the  quick  lunch  man.  "  He  could 
take  you  anywhere  you'd  want  to  go." 


206        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"  Just  the  thing ! "  cried  Dick,  quickly. 
"Where  is  that  fellow?" 

"  He  ought  to  be  here  now — he  generally 
comes  in  about  noon  for  sandwiches  and  coffee." 

"  I  wish  he  would  come  now,"  murmured  Sam. 

After  that  they  did  not  hurry  their  lunch, 
hoping  the  owner  of  the  motor-boat  would  ap- 
pear. He  came  in  ten  minutes  later — a  bright, 
cheery  individual,  not  much  older  than  Dick. 

"  Sure  I  can  take  you  anywhere  along  the 
river,  if  you  are  willing  to  pay  for  it,"  said  he, 
in  answer  to  a  question  from  the  oldest  Rover 
boy.  "Just  give  me  time  to  get  a  mouthful  and 
I  will  be  with  you." 

"  Let  us  take  some  lunch  along,"  suggested 
Tom.  "  There  is  no  telling  how  long  this  search 
will  last." 

"We  might  take  a  little,"  answered  Dick. 
"  But  I  don't  think  we'll  be  on  the  river  long." 

Ten  minutes  later  the  crowd  was  on  the  way 
to  the  river,  to  a  dock  where  lay  the  motor-boat. 
It  was  not  a  very  elegant  craft,  but  it  had  a 
good  engine  and  could  travel  well — and  that, 
Just  then,  meant  everything  to  the  Rover  boys. 
A  bargain  was  struck  for  the  run,  and  the  boys 
and  the  owner  got  aboard.  And  then  the  search 
for  the  schooner  was  begun  anew. 


CHAPTER   XX 

A     MINUTE     TOO     LATE 

''WELL,  .Jhis  looks  like  a  wild  goose  chase, 
Dick." 

It  was  Sam  who  spoke,  from  the  bow  of  the 
motor-boat  For  over  two  hours  they  had  been 
moving  up  the  Hudson  River,  slowly,  scanning 
one  shore  and  the  other  with  care.  They  had 
noted  many  boats,  but  nothing  that  looked  like 
the  schooner  for  which  they  were  so  eagerly 
searching. 

"  They  had  a  pretty  good  start  of  you/'  said 
John  Slater,  the  owner  of  the  motor-boat. 
"  Maybe  they  are  up  to  Nyack  or  Haverstraw 
by  this  time." 

"  Well,  all  we  can  do  is  to  keep  on  and  watch 
out,"  said  Tom,  with  a  sigh.  His  disposition 
for  fun  seemed  to  have  entirely  left  him. 

Another  half  hour  went  by,  and  they  came  in 
sight  of  a  number  of  lumber  barges,  all  heavily 
loaded.  The  barges  were  being  towed  by  a  big 
tug. 

"  I  know  the  captain  of  that  tug,"  said  John 
207 


.208    THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

Slater.  "  We  might  ask  him  about  the  schooner." 

"  A  good  idea,"  answered  Dick. 

They  were  soon  close  to  the  steam  tug  and 
the  motor-boat  owner  waved  his  hand  to  the  cap- 
tain of  the  larger  craft,  who  waved  in  return. 

"  I  want  to  find  a  schooner  named  the  Ellen 
Rodney!"  shouted  John  Slater.  "Did  you  pass 
her,  Captain  Voss?" 

"  I  did,"  was  the  answer.  "  She  was  oppo- 
site Nyack,  heading  in  to  shore." 

"  Opposite  Nyack !  "  exclaimed  Dick.  "  How 
far  is  that  from  here  ?  " 

"  Not  more  than  two  miles,"  answered  John 
Slater,  as  he  turned  his  motor-boat  up  the  river 
again. 

"  We  ought  to  be  able  to  catch  them  now ! " 
cried  Sam,  his  face  brightening  a  bit. 

"  Wish  we  had  the  police  along,"  remarked 
Tom.  "  Bringing  those  rascals  to  terms  may  not 
be  as  easy  as  you  imagine." 

"I've  got  a  gun  on  board," 'said  John  Slater. 
"  A  double-barreled  shotgun  I  keep  on  hand  to 
guar_i  against  river  thieves.  I  use  it  to  go 
gunning  with,  too." 

"  Good !  Better  bring  it  out  and  let  us  look 
at  it,"  returned  Dick. 

The  weapon  was  produced  and  found  to  be  in 
good  condition  and  loaded.  It  was  placed  oa 


A    MINUTE    TOO    LATE 

one  of  the  seats,  an  oilskin  raincoat  being  thrown 
over  it  to  hide  it  from  view. 

"  We  won't  use  force  unless  it  is  necessary," 
said  Dick,  grimly. 

They  soon  came  in  sight  of  Nyack,  but  nottK 
ing  that  looked  like  the  schooner  came  intd 
view. 

"  Maybe  they  went  further,"  suggested  Sam. 
'  Their  turning  in  might  have  been  a  bluff — to 
throw  us  off  the  trail." 

"  Or  they  may  have  sent  a  message  ashore — > 
maybe  a  message  to  Japson ! "  cried  Dick. 

"Of  course  they  would  want  to  put  him  on 
guard — and  put  those  at  the  offices  on  guard, 
too,"  murmured  Tom. 

They  continued  on  up  the  river,  with  their 
eyes  ever  on  the  alert.  It  was  now  growing  late 
in  the  afternoon  and  the  sky  was  clouded,  as  if 
a  storm  was  coming. 

"  Look !  "  cried  Dick,  suddenly,  and  he  pointed 
ahead  and  to  the  right. 

"  The  schooner,  sure  enough ! "  said  Tom- 
"  And  see,  a  rowfeoat  is  alongside ! " 

"Maybe  we  are  just  in  time,"  added  Sam., 
"I  hope  so." 

Without  delay,  the  motor-boat  was  headed  in 
the  direction  of  the  Ellen  Rodney.  As  they 
drew  closer  they  saw  but  one  man  on  the  deck 


210        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

of  the  schooner, — a  burly  fellow  who  looked  like 
a  sailor. 

"  Schooner  ahoy ! "  shouted  Dick,  as  they  ran 
alongside. 

"Ahoy,  the  motor-boat!"  cried  the  burly 
man,  coming  towards  them. 

"Are  you  the  captain?" 

"  No,  the  captain  is  ashore,"  was  the  short 
answer. 

"  I'll  come  aboard,"  said  Dick,  and  without 
waiting  for  another  word  from  the  man  he  made 
his  way  to  the  deck,  followed  by  Tom.  He  had 
already  directed  Sam  to  remain  in  the  motor- 
boat  with  John  Slater,  to  summon  assistance  if 
necessary. 

"  What  do  you  want  here  ?  "  demanded  the 
burly  man,  surlily. 

"  I  guess  you  know  well  enough,"  answered 
Dick,  shortly.  "  Where  is  that  man  who  is  a 
prisoner?  " 

"  You  mean  the  crazy  man  ?  " 

"  He  isn't  crazy,  and  you  know  it." 

"Those  men  who  had  him  in  charge  said  he 
was  crazy,"  grumbled  the  burly  individual. 

"Where  is  he?" 

"What  is  that  to  you?" 

"Everything.  That  man  is  my  father,  and 
|hey  have  kidnapped  him.  Maybe  you  know  that 


A    MINUTE    TOO   LATE  2II 

kidnapping  is  a  State's  prison  offense,"  added 
the  oldest  Rover  boy,  sharply. 

"  Humph !  I  ain't  had  nothing  to  do  with  any 
kidnapping,  young  fellow,"  growled  the  man. 
"I'm  the  mate  o'  this  schooner,  that's  all.  If 
anything  is  wrong,  you'll  have  to  see  the  captain 
about  it." 

"You  say  he  went  ashore?" 

"Yes." 

"  Did  those  men  and  my  father  go  with  him?  " 

"All  of  'em  went,  yes." 

"Who  was  left  here  besides  you?" 

"  Those  two  dago  sailors,  that's  all,"  and  the 
mate  pointed  to  two  men  who  lay  on  the  for- 
ward deck,  asleep. 

"  Are  you  willing  to  have  me  take  a  look 
around?"  went  on  Dick,  after  a  pause. 

"You'll  have  to  wait  till  the  captain  gets 
back,"  answered  the  man,  doggedly.  "  If  there 
is  anything  wrong  I  don't  want  to  be  mixed  up 
in  it." 

"If  you  want  to  keep  out  of  trouble  you'll 
help  us  all  you  can,'*'  put  in  Tom.  "  This  is  a 
I  serious  business." 

"  I  don't  know  a  thing  about  it,"  and  the  man 
shrugged  his  shoulders. 

Without  another  word  Dick  walked  across 
the  deck  and  descended  into  the  cabin.  The 


212        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

burly  man's  face  clouded  and  he  made  a  move 
as  if  to  follow  him. 

"  You  stay  here,"  said  Tom,  and  put  his  hand 
in  his  hip  pocket,  as  if  about  to  draw  some 
weapon. 

The  man  changed  color  and  shifted  uneasily. 

"  All  right,  have  your  own  way,"  he  said. 
He  was  a  coward  at  heart,  and  as  he  had  not 
been  in  the  plot  against  Anderson  Rover  he  did 
not  wish  to  get  any  deeper  into  the  trouble. 

It  did  not  take  Dick  long  to  convince  him- 
self that  his  father  was  not  on  board  the 
schooner.  He  called  his  parent's  name,  and 
then  passed  swiftly  through  the  cabin  and  sev- 
eral staterooms  and  also  a  cook's  galley.  He 
saw  where  somebody  had  been  locked  in  one  of 
the  staterooms,  for  the  compartment  was  in  dis- 
order and  the  door  was  marred  and  cracked. 

"  Dad  must  have  struggled  to  get  away,"  he 
murmured.  "  I  hope  they  didn't  hurt  him." 

When  Dick  came  on  deck  he  found  Tom 
guarding  the  burly  man.  The  two  sailors  were 
still  asleep — or  pretended  to  be. 

"  Nothing  doing  below,"  he  announced.     "  Jy. 
guess  they  took  him  ashore." 

"  We  might  as  well  go  ashore,  too,  then,"  said 
his  brother.  "We  are  wasting  valuable  time 
here."  He  turned  to  the  mate.  "  Will  you  tell 


A    MINUTE    TOO    LATE 


213 


tts  where  they  went?    It  will  be  to  your  interest 
to  open  your  mouth." 

"  They  mentioned  the  old  Blue  Horseshoe 
Tavern,"  growled  the  burly  mate.  "  But  I  don't 
'know  if  they  went  there." 

Dick  said  no  more,  but  hurried  over  the  side, 
followed  by  Tom.  As  he  left  the  schooner  the 
fun-loving  Rover  could  not  help  but  bring  from 
his  hip  pocket  an  extra  handkerchief  and  flourish 
it  at  the  mate. 

"There's  my  gun,  how  do  you  like  it?"  he 
cried,  with  a  grin. 

"  Go  to  grass ! "  grunted  the  burly  fellow,  and 
scowled  deeply. 

In  a  few  words  the  pair  told  Sam  what  they 
had  learned.  The  motor-boat  was  headed  for  a 
nearby  dock,  and  a  few  minutes  later  the  Rovers 
leaped  ashore. 

"I  don't  know  if  I  will  need  you  again  or 
not,"  said  Dick  to  John  Slater. 

"If  it  wasn't  for  watching  my  boat  I'd  go 
.along,"  said  the  motor-boat  youth.  "  I  am  inter- 
ested in  this  case." 

"  Here  is  your  money.  But  I  wish  you  would 
hang  around  a  while,"  went  on  Dick,  paying 
him. 

"  I  sure  will  hang  around,  and  I'll  watch  that 
schooner." 


214 

"  Good !  Our  address  in  New  York  is  the 
Outlook  Hotel,"  said  Dick. 

The  boys  saw  nobody  around  the  dock,  whick 
was  in  the  rear  of  a  small  lumber  yard.  They 
walked  through  the  yard  to  an  office  in  front. 
A  road  ran  out  of  the  side  of  the  yard  and  the 
boys  wondered  if  the  men  they  were  after  had 
taken  that. 

Nobody  but  a  boy  of  fifteen  was  in  the  office, 
clicking  out  a  letter  on  an  old  typewriter. 

"  The  boss  ain't  around — he  had  to  go  to  New 
York  on  business,"  he  announced,  as  soon  as  the 
boys  appeared.  "Want  to  leave  an  order  for 
anything?  " 

"  We  are  looking  for  some  men  who  came 
ashore  a  while  ago,"  said  Dick.  "Did  you  see 
'em?" 

The  boy  shook  his  head. 

"Ain't  nobody  been  here  all  afternoon,"  lie 
said. 

"  Do  you  know  anything  of  a  place  called  the 
Blue  Horseshoe  Tavern  ?  " 

"  Sure  I  do.  It's  up  on  the  post  road — the 
place  where  all  the  auto  parties  stop,"  was  the 
knowing  reply. 

"  How  far  from  here  ?  " 

"  Not  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile." 

"Which  way?" 


A    MINUTE    TOO    LATE  215 

"  I'll  show  you,"  and  the  boy  reached  for  his 
cap.  Going  outside,  he  led  them  from  the  yard 
to  a  road  running1  up  a  hill. 

"  Keep  right  on  that  till  you  get  to  the  Blue 
Horseshoe,"  he  said.  "  You  can't  miss  it,  be- 
cause it's  the  only  place  around  here." 

They  thanked  the  lad  and  hurried  on.  By  this 
time  it  was  quite  dark  and  a  few  drops  of  rain 
had  begun  to  fall. 

"  The  Blue  Horseshoe  Tavern  must  be  one  of 
the  old-time  roadhouses  that  has  had  a  revival 
of  business  since  auto  parties  became  popular," 
said  Dick,  as  he  and  his  brothers  trudged  along. 
"  I  wonder  what  those  rascals  will  tell  the  pro- 
prietor? " 

"  Most  likely  the  same  old  story — that  dad  is 
crazy,"  answered  Tom.  "That's  Crabtree's  fa- 
vorite game." 

They  had  just  turned  a  curve  in  the  road  and 
come  in  sight  of  a  low,  rambling  tavern,  when 
they  saw  a  big  touring  car  of  the  enclosed  pat- 
tern coming  towards  them.  To  avoid  the  ma- 
chine, which  was  being  driven  rapidly,  they 
leaped  to  the  side  of  the  road. 

As  the  touring  car  came  closer,  they  saw  that 
two  men  sat  on  the  front  seat, — the  driver  and 
a  man  who  had  his  hat  pulled  far  down  over 
his  face  and  his  coat  collar  turned  up. 


2i6        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"  Look ! "  yelled  Tom,  pointing  to  the  man 
beside  the  driver. 

"  Look  into  the  car !  "  yelled  Sam. 

The  automobile  rolled  on,  lost  to  sight  in  less 
than  a  minute,  around  the  bend  of  the  road.  It 
was  headed  in  the  direction  of  New  York  City. 

"  The  man  on  the  front  seat  with  the  driver 
was  Pelter !  "  exclaimed  Tom. 

"And  dad  was  inside  the  car!"  gasped  Sam. 

"  You  are  right,"  returned  Dick.  "  And  Crab- 
tree  and  another  man  was  with  him.  Dad  looked 
as  if  he  had  his  hands  bound  behind  him." 

"What  shall  we  do  now?  " 

"How  can  we  follow  that  car?" 

"How  did  they  get  that  auto  so  quick?" 

"  I  think  I  know  how  they  got  the  auto,"  said 
the  oldest  Rover  boy,  after  a  pause.  "  There 
must  be  a  garage  at  the  tavern.  Come  on  and 
see.  Maybe  we  can  get  another  auto  and  follow 
that  car ! " 


CHAPTER   XXI 
CAPTAIN   RODNEY'S   TESTIMONY 

IT  was  raining  steadily  when  the  three  Rover 
boys  reached  the  Blue  Horseshoe  Tavern,  an 
ancient  hostelry  standing  at  the  junction  of  two 
main  roads.  In  the  rear  was  a  barn,  and  a  big 
carriage  shed  which  had  been  converted  into  a 
garage.  The  youths  headed  for  the  latter  place 
and  entered  quickly,  to  get  out  of  the  downpour. 

A  colored  man  came  forward  to  see  what  they 
wanted. 

"  Can  we  hire  a  car  here,  and  at  once  ?  "  ques- 
tioned Dick. 

"  Sorry,  boss,  but  we  ain't  got  no  car  in  jest 
now,"  answered  the  colored  man.  "  I  expect  one 
>back  in  about  an  hour." 

"The  car  that  just  went  out?"  demanded 
,Tom. 

"  Yes,  san." 

"  Can't  you  get  us  any  sort  of  a  car?  "  pleaded 
Sam. 

"  Ain't  got  nuffin'  in  'ceptin'  a  roadster,  an' 
217 


that  won't  run — sumthin'  the  matter  with  the 
carburetor." 

"Are  you  sure  that  other  car  will  be  back  in 
an  hour?"  demanded  Dick. 

"  I  think  so.  The  gents  as  took  it  said  they 
didn't  want  to  go  more  than  ten  miles." 

"All  right,  we'll  wait  till  the  car  gets  back," 
answered  Dick,  struck  with  a  sudden  idea. 

"  But,  Dick,  we'll  lose  valuable  time,"  whis- 
pered Sam. 

"  Perhaps  not,  Sam.  If  we  got  a  car  now  we 
wouldn't  know  where  to  go.  If  that  driver 
<:omes  back  and  takes  us " 

"  Oh,  I  see." 

"  Fine !  "  murmured  Tom. 

"  You  call  us  as  soon  as  that  car  shows  itself," 
said  Dick,  to  the  colored  man.  "  We'll  be  in  the 
tavern." 

"  Yes,  sah,"  was  the  reply,  and  the  man  read- 
ily pocketed  the  quarter  that  the  oldest  Rover 
tossed  to  him. 

The  boys  ran  to  the  tavern  by  a  side  en- 
trance which  was  not  far  from  the  shed.  They 
walked  along  a  porch  until  they  came  to  some 
windows  opening  from  a  dining  room. 

"  Look  in  there ! "  cried  Tom,  coming  to  a 
halt. 

The  others  did  as  directed  and  saw,  at  one  of 


CAPTAIN   RODNEY'S    TESTIMONY 


219 


the  tables,  the  man  they  had  seen  on  the  deck  of 
the  Ellen  Rodney. 

"  It's  Captain  Rodney,"  went  on  Tom,  who 
had  learned  the  name  from  the  schooner's  mate. 

"  And  he  is  alone,  which  -proves  that  the 
others  were  in  that  auto  with  dad,"  returned 
Sam. 

"  I'm  going  to  interview  him !  "  cried  Dick. 
"And  maybe  I'll  have  him  arrested." 

All  three  boys  walked  into  the  dining  room 
of  the  tavern  and  took  seats  at  the  same  table 
with  the  master  of  the  schooner.  He  started, 
and  was  about  to  spring  to  his  feet,  when  Dick 
stopped  him. 

"  Sit  where  you  are,"  said  the  oldest  Rover 
boy,  sternly.  "If  you  attempt  to  leave  I'll  call 
the  police." 

"What  do  you — er — mean?"  stammered  the 
man,  and  he  looked  decidedly  uncomfortable. 

"  I  reckon  you  know  who  we  are,  Captain 
Rodney,"  said  Tom. 

"I  don't" 

"  We  are  Anderson  Rover's  sons,"  said  Sam. 

"  Never  heard  of  that  man,"  faltered  the  cap- 
tain. 

"  You  had  him  a  prisoner  only  a  short  while 
ago." 

"  Oh,    you   mean   that   crazy   man    who    was 


220       THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

.aboard  my  schooner?  I  thought  his  name  was 
Brown." 

"  See  here,  Captain  Rodney,  you  can't  fool  us, 
so  you  had  better  not  try,"  said  Dick,  sternly. 
"  You  know  the  game  those  men  are  trying  to 
play.  They  are  going  to  prison  for  it, — and 
you'll  go,  too,  if  you  are  not  careful." 

"  What !  you  threaten  me !  "  roared  the  man, 
growing  red  in  the  face. 

"  I  do." 

"  I  can  have  the  law  on  you  for  it." 

"Go  ahead,  the  sooner  the  better,"  responded 
Dick,  coolly.  "  Those  men  are  rascals  and  you 
know  it.  Now,  I  am  going  to  give  you  one 
chance — just  one,"  went  on  Dick,  looking  the 
master  of  the  Ellen  Rodney  squarely  in  the  eyes. 

"  What  do  you  mean?  " 

"As  I  said  before,  those  men  are  rascals". 
They  abducted  my  father,  and  you  aided  them. 
I  can  prove  it.  As  soon  as  we  rescue  my  father 
we  are  going  to  prosecute  those  rascals.  If  you 
want  to  save  your  own  skin  you  had  better  help 
us  all  you  can." 

At  these  plain  words  the  face  of  Captain  Rod- 
ney became  a  study. 

"  They  told  me  he  was  a  crazy  man — a  brother 
to  one  of  the  others — and  they  wanted  to  get 
him  to  some  sanitarium." 


CAPTAIN   RODNEY'S    TESTIMONY         22I 

"If  that  was  so,  why  did  they  run  away?" 

"I  didn't  know  they  ran  away — until  just 
now." 

"  You  started  to  go  down  the  river,"  said  Tom. 
"Why  did  you  change  your  mind  and  come 
here?" 

"They  chartered  the  schooner  for  a  week — I 
was  under  their  orders." 

"Where  were  they  going  at  first?" 

"  Down  the  Jersey  coast  and  back.  They  said 
they  thought  a  little  ocean  air  would  do  the 
crazy  man  good  before  they  put  him  in  the  sani- 
tarium. I  own  up  that  I  was  suspicious,  but 
they  claimed  everything  was  straight." 

"  They  were  going  to  take  my  father  down  the 
coast  for  several  days  so  that  he  could  not  sign 
important  papers,"  returned  Dick.  "  It  is  a  well- 
laid  plot  to  do  our  family  out  of  a  great  deal 
of  money  and  dishonor  my  father." 

"Well,  I  ain't  in  it,  I  give  you  my  word.  I 
chartered  my  vessel  to  'em,  that's  all." 

"  We  will  take  you  at  your  word,  then.  But 
you  must  tell  all  you  know  about  them  and  their 
plans,"  said  Dick,  after  a  pause. 

"And  if  I  do  that,  will  you — er — drop  tke 
charge  against  me  ?  "  questioned  the  master  of 
the  Ellen  Rodney,  eagerly. 

"If  you  don't,  we  are  going  to  have  you 


222        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

placed  under  arrest  as  soon  as  we  can  get  an 
officer." 

"  Don't  do  that !  I  never  had  any  trouble  be- 
fore and  I  don't  want  it  now.  I'll  help  you  all 
I  can — if  what  you  say  its  true,  and  that  maw 
is  your  father." 

After  that  the  captain  was  quite  willing  to 
talk,  and  he  told  how  Crabtree  and  Japson  had 
come  to  him  and  questioned  him  about  the 
schopner,  and  finally  chartered  the  craft  for  a 
week.  They  had  at  first  wanted  to  pay  him  at 
the  end  of  the  time,  but  he  had  insisted  upon 
receiving  his  money  in  advance  and  it  was  then 
paid  over.  He  had  been  told  that  the  strange 
man  was  Crabtree's  brother,  who  had  gone  crazy 
because  of  the  loss  of  his  money  in  a  Western 
irrigation  scheme. 

"  They  said  they  would  take  him  down  the 
coast  for  three  or  four  days,  to  brace  him  up 
a  bit.  Then  we  were  to  run  in  at  Absecon,  near 
Atlantic  City,  and  land  all  hands.  They  said 
they  would  go  from  Atlantic  City  to  Lakewood, 
where  the  sanitarium  was  located." 

"  Probably  they  intended  to  let  him  go  at 
Absecon  and  then  deny  that  they  had  ever 
touched  him,"  said  Dick. 

"  Maybe — I  don't  know  anything  abow±  that,'* 
replied  the  captain. 


CAPTAIN  RODNEY'S    TESTIMONY 


223 


"But  how  did  you  come  to  change  your 
plans?"  asked  Tom. 

"  When  you  came  out  in  that  rowboat  and  the 
crazy  man — excuse  me,  I  mean  your  father — cut 
up  so,  they  hustled  him  back  to  one  of  the  state- 
rooms," went  on  Captain  Rodney.  "  Then  they 
had  a  long  talk.  I  think  they  were  afraid  you 
would  go  down  the  river  by  train  and  try  to 
head  them  off " 

"  Which  we  did,"  murmured  Sam. 

"  After  a  while  Pelter  and  Japson  came  to 
me  and  said  they  must  come  up  the  river — that 
a  sister  of  the  crazy  man  lived  up  here,  and  they 
must  visit  her  before  they  went  down  the  coast 
I  was  suspicious,  but  what  could  I  do?  I  had 
chartered  my  vessel  and  I  had  my  money,  so  I 
obeyed  orders.  Then  we  came  up  here  as  fast 
as  we  could.  The  steam  tug  was  dismissed,  and 
we  came  ashore  to  this  place.  Then  they  hired 
an  auto  and  went  off — and  that's  all  I  know- 
about  it." 

"  You  don't  know  where  they  went? "  cried 
Dick. 

"  No  more  than  what  they  said — that  they 
were  going  to  the  crazy  man's  sister." 

"Which  was  false,"  muttered  Tom. 

"  What  were  you  to  do?  "  asked  Dick. 

"  They  told  me  I  might  sail  up  the  river  to 


224        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

Newburgh  and  wait  there  for  a  telegram." 
After  that  the  captain  talked  freely.  But  what 
he  had  to  say  shed  but  little  more  light  on  the 
subject.  The  boys  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
he  had  been  dragged  into  the  plot  without  know- 
ing what  it  was,  but  that  he  had  been  willing  to 
lend  his  help,  provided  he  was  well  paid  for  it. 
"  When  the  proper  time  comes  I  shall  want 
your  testimony,"  said  Dick,  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  interview.  "  In  the  meantime  I  advise  you 
to  have  no  more  to  do  with  those  fellows." 

"They  shan't  come  near  the  schooner,  even 
if  they  did  charter  her,"  growled  Captain  Rod- 
ney. 


CHAPTER   XXII 

HOT    ON    THE    TRAIL 

THE  boys  had  no  appetite,  but  as  they  were  ia 
the  dining  room  they  ordered  a  light  lunch  and 
paid  for  it.  Then  they  saw  an  automobile  come 
splashing  through  the  mud  of  the  road. 

"  There  is  that  car ! "  cried  Sam,  as  he  recog- 
nized the  driver. 

The  boys  ran  out  and  made  their  way  through 
the  rain  to  the  garage.  The  enclosed  touring  car 
had  just  entered  and  the  driver  had  shut  off  the 
power.  The  wind  shield  had  been  up,  but  the 
man  had  gotten  quite  wet  and  stood  shaking  the 
water  from  his  coat. 

"  Here's  the  car ! "  cried  the  colored  man, 
roming  forward. 

"  So  I  see,"  returned  Dick.  He  turned  to 
the  driver.  "  Pretty  bad  traveling,  I  imagine." 

"You  bet!  The  road  is  a  mass  of  slippery 
mud.  I  came  near  skidding  half  a  dozen  times." 

"Where  did  you  go?"  and  Dick  stepped 
closer  to  the  chauffeur. 

22S 


226        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

The  man  started  and  looked  at  the  oldest 
Rover  boy  sharply. 

"What's  that  to  you?"  he  asked,  shortly. 

"  Everything.  We  want  to  go  to  the  same 
place." 

"And  as  quickly  as  you  can  get  us  there/' 
added  Tom. 

The  chauffeur  surveyed  the  three  Rovers  in 
amazement.  Then  he  took  off  his  coat  and  shook 
it  briskly. 

"  Sorry,  but  I  can't  take  you,"  he  said,  slowly „ 
**  I've  got  another  job  in — er — in  half  an  hour." 

"  You  are  going  to  take  us,"  said  Dick,  firmly. 
"And  right  away.  What  did  those  men  pay 
you?" 

"  What  is  that " 

"How  much — out  with  it?  I  haven't  any 
time  to  spare." 

"Ten  dollars." 

"  All  right.  You'd  like  another  ten,  wouldn't 
you?" 

"  Sure.     But " 

"Ten  dollars  to  get  us  to  the  same  place  in- 
side of  twenty  minutes,"  went  on  Dick,  and 
showed  a  roll  of  bankbills. 

"  Can't  do  it — in  this  slippery  weather,"  an- 
swered the  man,  his  eyes  glistening  at  the  sight 
of  the  money.  "  Make  it  in  half  an  hour." 


HOT- ON   THE   TRAIL  227 

"All  right  then." 

"  I'll  put  on  the  chains,"  cried  the  chauffeur, 
and  brought  out  the  anti-skidding  chains  for  the 
rear  wheels.  The  boys  got  the  colored  man  to 
assist  him,  and  the  chains  were  soon  adjusted. 
Then  the  car  was  backed  out  of  the  garage  and 
the  three  Rovers  leaped  inside. 

"  Now,  don't  lose  a  minute,"  said  Dick. 

"  I  won't.  But  we  are  taking  chances  on  this 
road,  sir,  I  can  tell  you  that." 

It  was  still  raining  steadily,  and  the  highway 
was  a  mass  of  oily  mud, — a  splendid  compound 
upon  which  to  skid.  On  and  on  rushed  the  tour- 
ing car  at  a  rate  of  speed  varying  from  twenty 
to  thirty-five  miles  an  hour. 

"  I  could  eat  this  road  up  if  it  was  dry," 
shouted  the  chauffeur.  "  The  machine  is  good 
for  fifty  miles  an  hour." 

"  Well,  don't  climb  a  tree,  or  a  stone  wall," 
cautioned  Dick,  grimly. 

Ordinarily  the  Rover  boys  might  have  been 
anxious  because  of  such  wild  riding,  but  now 
every  thought  was  centered  on  their  father. 
How  he  was  faring,  and  would  they  be  able  to 
rescue  him? 

Twice  the  touring  car  made  dangerous  lurches 
to  one  side,  once  fairly  brushing  some  trees 
which  lined  the  roadway.  But  the  driver  stuck 


228        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

to  his  post,  and  gained  the  middle  of  the  road- 
way again,  and  rushed  on  as  rapidly  as  ever. 

"  I'll  wager  he  doesn't  own  the  machine," 
muttered  Sam.  "  If  he  did,  he'd  be  more  care- 
ful of  it" 

"  Well,  he  owns  his  own  neck,"  returned 
Tom,  grimly.  "  So  maybe  he'll  be  careful  of 
that." 

They  passed  through  several  small  villages,  the 
inhabitants  gazing  out  curiously  at  the  rushing 
and  swaying  car.  Then  they  took  to  a  side  road, 
where  the  traveling  was  worse  than  ever. 

Suddenly  the  car  made  a  turn.  They  had 
struck  a  rut  in  the  road  and  even  the  chains  did 
not  save  them.  Around  swung  the  automobile. 
There  was  a  grinding  of  the  brakes  and  the 
power  was  shut  off.  Then  came  a  jar  that  sent 
the  Rover  boys  in  a  heap. 

"  Something  has  happened  sure ! "  cried  Tom, 
who  was  the  first  to  get  up. 

They  looked  out  of  the  door  of  the  enclosed 
car.  They  had  come  up  to  a  mass  of  bushes  be- 
side the  road,  and  the  left  front  wheel  had  struck 
a  rock  and  was  twisted  around.  The  mud  guard 
on  that  side  had  crumpled  up. 

"  I  guess  the  journey  is  over — so  far  as  this 
car  is  concerned,"  muttered  Dick,  as  he  leaped 
out,  fallowed  by  his  brothers. 


HOT    ON    THE    TRAIL 

The  chauffeur  was  trying  his  steering  wheel. 
The  right  wheel  responded,  but  that  which  had 
hit  the  rock  did  not. 

"  Out  of  commission !  "  he  said,  with  a  frown. 
"  I  was  afraid  something  would  happen." 

"If  it's  only  the  steering  gear  it  won't  cost 
much,"  said  Dick.  "  How  much  further  to  that 
place?" 

"  Not  over  half  a  mile." 

"  Then  we'll  walk  it ! "  cried  Tom. 

"  Of  course,"  added  Sam. 

"  Ain't  you  going  to  pay  me ! "  exclaimed  the 
chauffeur,  in  dismay.  "  I  did  my  best." 

"  Yes,  I'll  pay  you,"  responded  Dick.  "  And 
give  you  an  extra  five  for  the  repairs.  Now 
tell  us  just  where  that  place  is,  and  what  sort." 

"  It's  a  country  home, — a  white  place,- set  in  a 
lot  of  trees, — with  a  wind  mill  back  of  the  barn. 
Got  a  green  hedge  in  front — the  right  side  of 
the  road — you  can't  miss  it." 

"  Did  you  hear  the  name  of  the  owner?  " 

"  Belongs  to  one  of  the  crowd — man  named 
Japson.  It's  an  old  country  home  that  was  in 
his  family  for  years.  He  don't  live  there,  but 
it's  famished,  I  understand." 

The  boys  said  no  more,  but  as  soon  as  the 
chauffeur  was  paid,  they  set  off  through  the  rain. 
It  was  a  disagreeable  journey,  and  but  little  was 


230        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

said.  All  wondered  what  would  be  best  to  do 
when  they  reached  the  place  for  which  they  were 
bound. 

"  I  wish  we  had  the  sheriff  and  his  posse 
with  us,  as  we  had  when  we  rounded  up  those 
rascals  at  Plankville,"  said  Tom. 

"  Or  if  we  only  had  John  Slater's  shotgun," 
added  Sam. 

"  Never  mind.  As  I  understand  it,  we  are 
three  to  three,"  said  Dick.  "  And  we  can  arm 
ourselves  with  heavy  sticks,"  which  they  pres- 
ently proceeded  to  do,  tearing  up  some  bushes 
for  that  purpose. 

It  was  not  long  before  they  came  in  sight  of 
a  long,  high,  hedge.  Back  of  it  was  a  white 
house,  surrounded  by  numerous  old  trees.  Over 
the  trees  showed  the  top  of  an  old  wind  mill, 
used  for  pumping  water  from  a  driven  well. 

"  Think  we  had  better  go  right  up  to  the  door 
and  knock  ?  "  asked  Sam,  as  they  halted  at  the 
edge  of  the  hedge. 

"  No,  I  think  we  had  better  spy  around  a  lit- 
tle at  first,"  answered  his  big  brother. 

All  crawled  through  a  gap  in  the  hedge  and, 
skulking  from  tree  to  tree,  gradually  neared  the 
house.  Near  one  of  the  windows  grew  some 
bushes,  and  they  crept  along  to  these.  Then 
Dick  looked  through  the  window. 


HOT    ON    THE    TRAIL  2$l 

He  saw  Pelter  and  Japson  seated  at  a  table, 
going  over  some  legal  papers.  Nobody  else 
;was  visible. 

"  Perhaps  Crabtree  took  father  to  some  other 
place,  after  the  chauffeur  left!"  thought  the 
youth,  in  dismay. 

The  window  was  closed,  so  the  boys  could 
not  hear  what  was  being  said.  They  consulted 
among  themselves,  and  walked  around  the  house, 
being  careful  to  keep  well  under  the  windows, 
which  were  rather  high. 

"  Here  is  a  cellar  door,  let  us  try  that,"  said 
Tom,  and  he  raised  it  up,  and  almost  before  they 
knew  it,  they  were  in  the  cellar  under  the  build- 
ing. 

Above  them  they  could  hear  footsteps  and  & 
murmur  of  voices.  Evidently  Josiah  Crabtree. 
had  joined  the  brokers. 

"  You  stay  here  and  I'll  investigate  further/" 
said  Dick,  after  a  pause,  during  which  he  had 
espied  a  stairs  leading  upward  to  the  rear  of 
the  house. 

He  mounted  the  stairs  and  came  out  into  a 
wide  kitchen.  No  one  was  present,  nor  did  any 
fire  burn  in  the  big  stove.  From  the  kitchen  a 
door  led  to  a  dining  room,  which,  in  turn,  led 
to  a  sitting  room.  In  the  last-named  room  were 
the  three  men. 


232        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"  Do  you  think  he'll  raise  a  row  ?  "  Pelter 
was  asking. 

"  He  can't  raise  much  of  a  row,  with  that 
towel  bound  over  his  mouth,"  replied  Josiah 
Crabtree. 

"  It's  lucky  we  had  this  place  to  come  to,"  put' 
in  Japson.  "  I  only  hope  they  don't  get  on  our 
trail  and  follow  us." 

"  I  don't  think  they  will  follow  us  here,"  said 
Pelter.  Then  followed  a  murmur,  as  he  and 
the  other  broker  went  over  the  legal  papers  on 
the  table. 

Dick  wondered  what  he  had  best  do  next.  He 
gazed  around  the  kitchen  and  saw  a  small  side 
door,  opening  on  an  enclosed  stairs  leading  tc 
the  second  floor.  He  went  up  the  stairs  noise- 
lessly. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

THE   RESCUE 

THE  oldest  Rover  boy  had  reached  a  rapid 
conclusion.  This  was  that  his  father  was  not  on 
the  first  floor  of  the  house,  nor  in  the  cellar. 
Consequently,  if  he  was  in  the  building  at  all — 
and  Dick  believed  he  was — he  must  be  some- 
where upstairs.  While  the  three  rascals  were  in 
the  sitting  room  he  intended  to  make  a  quick 
investigation. 

With  his  stick  still  in  his  hand,  in  case  of  at- 
tack, Dick  reached  the  second  floor  and  entered 
a  small  bed  chamber.  Opening  from  this  was  a 
second  room,  containing  a  cot.  Beyond  the 
rooms  was  a  closet,  and  that  was  all. 

"Too  bad!  This  stairs  leads  only  to  a 
kitchen  addition !  "  murmured  the  boy.  "  How 
can  I  get  into  the  main  house?  Why  didn't  they 
cut  a  door  through?  " 

He  looked  out  of  a  window  and  saw  the  roof 
of  a  porch.  At  the  end  of  the  roof  was  another 
window,  one  of  a  room  in  the  main  building 

233 


234        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

Without  hesitation  Dick  raised  the  sash  of  the 
window  at  which  he  stood  and  stepped  out  on  the 
porch  top.  Soon  he  was  at  the  other  window. 

It  was  locked,  but  the  catch  was  not  a  strong 
one,  and  with  the  blade  of  his  pocketknife  he 
easily  pushed  it  back.  Then  the  sash  came  up 
and  he  stepped  into  the  bedroom  beyond. 

The  room  was  empty  and  the  bed  showed  that 
it  had  not  been  used  for  some  time.  Dick 
crossed  the  apartment  and  opened  a  door  leading 
to  a  wide  hallway.  From  downstairs  came  a 
murmur  of  voices.  The  rascals  were  still  in  con- 
sultation. 

Swiftly  the  oldest  Rover  boy  passed  from  one 
room  to  another  of  the  big  house.  Each  was 
empty,  and  in  the  last  he  came  to  a  halt,  some- 
what dismayed.  Then  he  thought  of  an  en- 
closed staircase  he  had  noticed,  leading  to  the 
next  floor,  and  he  hurried  to  this. 

The  third  floor  of  the  building  was  but  an  open 
garret,  piled  high  with  old  furniture  and  dis- 
carded things  generally.  The  two  windows  were 
covered  with  dirt  and  cobwebs,  and  as  it  was 
dark  outside,  because  of  the  rain,  Dick  could 
see  but  little. 

"Fatter!"  he  called  softly.  "Father,  are 
you  here  ?  " 

He  listened  and  heard  a  tapping,  coming  from 


THE    RESCUE 

one  end  of  the  garret.  He  moved  over  in  the  di- 
rection and  struck  a  match.  Then  he  gave  a 
cry,  half  of  gladness  and  half  of  dismay. 

His  parent  was  there,  bound  to  an  upright  of 
the  garret  floor.  He  had  his  hands  behind  him, 
and  a  towel  was  tied  over  his  mouth.  With  deft 
fingers  Dick  unloosed  the  towel,  and  then  he  cut 
his  father's  bonds  with  his  pocketknife. 

"Oh,  Dick!  How  glad  I  am  that  you  have 
come ! "  gasped  Anderson  Rover,  when  he  could 
speak.  "  That  towel  nearly  smothered  me !  " 

"  Did  they  hurt  you  any,  Dad? "  asked  the 
boy  anxiously. 

"  Not  so  very  much,  Dick.  We  had  several 
rough  and  tumble  fights, — when  I  tried  to  get 
away  from  them.  But  they  were  too  many  for 
me.  Have  they  gone  ?  " 

"  No,  they  are  in  the  sitting  room  below,  talk- 
ing matters  over." 

"  And  you  came  here  all  alone  ?  "  asked  Mr. 
Rover,  stretching  his  cramped  limbs. 

"No,  Tom  and  Sam  are  down  in  the  cellar. 
I  told  them  I  would  come  upstairs  and  investi- 
gate." 

"Good!  Then  we  are  $T  to  three.  I  am 
glad  to  know  that.  It  will  make  it  easier  to  get 
away  from  them." 

"  Have  you  done  anything  for  them — I  mean, 


236        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

signed  any  papers,  or  anything  like  that?  "  asked 
the  son,  anxiously. 

"  No.  They  wanted  to  keep  me  from  signing 
certain  papers  that  must  be  signed  inside  of  two 
days,  Dick." 

"  I  know  it" 

"  They  also  wanted  me  to  sign  other  docu^ 
ments,  and  Crabtree  said  if  I  didn't  do  it  he 
would  leave  me  here  to  starve!" 

"The  rascal!"  muttered  Dick.  "We  have 
got  to  get  him  back  to  jail,  that's  sure!  Are 
you  sure  you  are  well  enough  to  go  with  me. 
Dad?" 

"  I — I  think  so,  Dick.  But  this  has  been  an 
awful  strain  on  me,"  sighed  Anderson  Rover. 

He  was  very  pale,  and  the  hand  he  placed  on 
Dick's  shoulder  trembled  greatly. 

"  After  this  you  must  let  me  attend  to  busi- 
ness for  you,"  said  the  son.  "  I  am  old  enough 
to  do  it.  You  need  a  complete  rest." 

"  Yes,  Dick,  but  your  college  career " 

"We'll  talk  about  those  things  later,  Dad. 
First,  I  want  to  get  you  away  from  here,  and  in 
a  safe  place.  Then  we'll  attend  to  Crabtree, 
Pelter  and  Japson,"  added  Dick,  grimly. 

"  The  business  matters  have  been  too  much  for 
me — I  realize  it  now,"  sighed  Anderson  Rover. 
*'  I  must  take  a  rest — a  good,  long  rest.  They 


THE    RESCUE 

would  not  have  gotten  the  best  of  me  if  I  had 
been  stronger." 

"  Come,"  said  Dick.  "  Don't  make  any  noise 
if  you  can  help  it,"  he  added,  in  a  whisper. 

He  guided  his  parent,  and  both  tiptoed  theii 
way  to  the  second  floor  of  the  dwelling.  Then 
they  entered  the  bed  chamber  opening  on  the  top 
of  the  porch,  and  so  made  their  way  down  to  the 
kitchen  and  then  into  the  cellar. 

"  Father ! "  cried  Sam  and  Tom,  simultane- 
ously, and  rushed  to  embrace  their  parent. 

"  My  boys !  "  murmured  Anderson  Rover,  and 
the  tears  stood  in  his  eyes.  Never  before  had 
he  realized  how  much  they  were  to  him. 

"  Come  on — no  time  to  talk  now,"  said  Dick, 
in  a  low  voice.  "We'll  get  away  from  here 
first." 

"  But  those  rascals "  began  Sam. 

"We'll  take  care  of  them,  Sam,  never 
fear." 

The  boys  led  their  father  from  the  cellar  and 
across  the  back  yard  to  the  barn.  From  the  barn 
a  lane  ran  to  the  mam  road.  The  lane  had  a 
hedge  that  practically  hid  it  from  the  house. 

"  Wait  here,  in  the  barn,"  said  Dick.  "  But 
keep  out  of  sight." 

"Where  are  you  going?"  asked  Tom. 

"  To  watch  on  the  road  for  a  wagon  or  an 


auto,  to  take  us  to  the  nearest  town  or  railroad 
station." 

"  Going  to  leave  those  men  here,  Dick  ?  " 

"  Not  much !  I  thought  Sam  might  take  dad 
back  to  New  York,  while  you  and  I  had  it  out 
with  Crabtree  and  the  others." 

"  Good !     I'm  with  you !  "  cried  Tom. 

Dick  posted  himself  on  the  highway,  and  pres- 
ently saw  a  covered  wagon  approaching,  drawn 
by  a  spirited  team.  The  driver  was  a  young 
man,  evidently  from  some  nearby  town. 

"  Going  to  town  ?  "  asked  Dick,  as  he  stopped 
the  fellow. 

"  Yes,  want  a  ride  ? "  and  the  young  man 
smiled. 

"I  don't,  but  another  fellow,  my  brother,  and 
my  father,  do,"  said  Dick.  "  If  you'll  take  them, 
we'll  pay  you." 

"  All  right,"  was  the  answer.  "  Come  right 
along." 

"  How  far  is  it  to  the  railroad  station?  "  went 
on  Dick. 

"  About  two  miles." 

"  Will  you  take  'em  over?  " 

"  Sore — I'm  going  there  myself." 

Dick  hurried  Back  to  the  barn,  and  soon  Sam 
and  Mr.  Rover  were  in  the  wagon.  Before 
Sam  left  his  big  brother  gave  him  some  instruc- 


THE   RESCUE  239 

tions    in    private.     Then   the   wagon   went    on 
through  the  rain. 

11  Thank    heaven !    dad   is    safe ! "   murmured 
Tom,  when  the  wagon  had  disappeared.       "  I , 
hope  Sam  doesn't  let  him  out  of  his  sight  until1 
those  business  affairs  are  settled  up." 

"  He  is  going  to  take  him  to  the  Outlook  Ho- 
tel first,"  answered  Dick.  "But  he  is  going  to 
do  more  than  that,  Tom — if  it  is  possible." 

"What?" 

"  I  told  him  to  stop  in  that  town  and  send 
some  help  here — a  police  official,  or  a  constable, 
or  some  men.  Crabtree  has  got  to  go  back  to 
jail,  and  I  think  we  ought  to  have  Pelter  and 
Japson  locked  up,  too — although  that  may  de- 
pend upon  what  father  may  have  to  say." 

"  Then  we  can't  do  anything  until  somebody 
gets  here  from  town,"  said  Tom,  somewhat  dis- 
appointedly. 

"We  can  watch  those  rascals  and  listen  to 
what  they  are  talking  about,"  returned  Dick. 

Both  boys  returned  to  the  barn,  to  get  out  of 
the  rain.  Then  they  sneaked  to  the  cellar  of 
the  house  and  up  to  the  kitchen,  and  then  to  a 
little  storeroom  next  to  the  dining  room.  From 
the  storeroom  they  could  catch  much  of  the  con- 
versation coming  from  the  three  men  in  the  din- 
ing room. 


240        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

There  were  some  matters  Dick  and  Tom  did 
not  understand.  But  from  what  was  said  they 
learned  that  Japson  was  a  distant  relative  of 
Josiah  Crabtree  and  the  two  had  been  in  several 
shady  transactions  together.  Crabtree  had 
agreed,  if  aided  in  his  escape  from  the  Plank- 
ville  jail,  to  assist  the  brokers  in  making  Ander- 
son Rover  a  prisoner  and  keeping  him  such  until 
he  signed  certain  documents  and  until  the  time 
had  passed  when  he  could  no  longer  take  up  the 
options  which  were  so  valuable  to  the  Rovers  and 
their  friends. 

"  Well,  I  think  these  documents  are  all  right," 
the  boys  heard  Jesse  Pelter  say,  presently. 
"  Now  we  can  turn  them  over  to  Belright  Fogg 
and  tell  him  to  go  ahead." 

The  boys  looked  at  each  other  in  amazement. 
Belright  Fogg!  The  lawyer  who  had  tried  to 
outwit  them  in  their  claim  against  the  railroad 
company  because  of  the  smashed  Dartaway! 
>Was  that  felbw  mixed  up  in  this  game  also? 
It  looked  like  it. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

FROM   A  GARRET  WINDOW 

'THIS    is    getting    interesting!"    whispered 
Tom. 

"  I  should  say  so,"  murmured  Dick. 

"  That  must  have  been  what  was  bringing  Bel- 
right  Fogg  down  to  New  York  City." 

"  It  looks  like  it." 

"  Well,  if  he  is  mixed  up  in  this  he  can  get 
pinched  with  the  rest  of  the  rascals." 

"  Right  you  are." 

After  that  the  boys  listened  to  more  of  the 
talk  between  the  brokers  and  Josiah  Crabtree. 
From  what  was  said  it  was  easy  to  guess  that 
the  plotters  expected  to  make  quite  a  large  sum 
of  money  out  of  their  evil  doings. 

"  But  you  have  got  to  get  Rover's  signatures 
to  those  papers,"  said  Jesse  Pelter. 

"  We'll  do  it !  "  cried  Josiah  Crabtree.  "  Even 
if  we  have  to  starve  him  into  it." 

"  I  hope  those  boys  didn't  come  after  the 
schooner,"  muttered  Japson. 

241 


242        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  I  reckon  Captain  Rodney  will  know  how  to 
throw  'em  off  the  scent,"  returned  Crabtree. 

"  We  were  lucky  to  find  that  automobile  at 
the  tavern,"  went  on  Pelter. 

Some  more  talk  followed  and  then  Japson  ex- 
claimed : 

"  Why  can't  we  make  Rover  sign  those  papers 
now?  Maybe  we  can  scare  him  into  it." 

"  We  might  try,"  answered  his  partner,  slowly. 

The  men  arose  and  Japson  lit  a  lantern,  for  he 
knew  it  was  dark  in  the  garret  Then,  one  be- 
hind the  other,  they  filed  out  into  the  hallway 
and  went  upstairs. 

"  They  are  going  to  find  out  something  pretty 
soon !  "  chuckled  Tom. 

"  Come  on,  let  us  follow  'em,  Tom/'  answered 
his  brother.  "  I've  got  a  new  idea." 

"What  is  it?" 

"  Perhaps  we  can  lock  'em  in  that  garret  until 
help  arrives." 

"  Just  the  cheese,  Dick !  I  remember  there 
was  a  lock  on  the  door, — and  maybe  we  can 
fasten  it  in  some  other  way,  too — so  they  can't 
break  out." 

:<  They  can't  get  out  by  the  windows — they 
are  too  high  from  the  ground." 

By  this  time  the  three  men  were  mounting 
the  garret  stairs.  They  had  to  pass  around  a 


FROM   A    GARRET    WINDOW  243 

pile  of  furniture  to  get  to  where  Anderson  Rover 
had  been  kept  a  prisoner. 

"  Quick  now ! "  cried  Dick,  as  the  men  dis- 
appeared from  view.  He  closed  the  garret  door 
and  turned  the  key  in  the  lock.  "  Get  a  chair  or 
\two,  Tom,  so  we  can  wedge  the  door  fast" 

Tom  understood,  and  ran  into  a  nearby  room, 
to  bring  out  a  square  table.  The  stairway  to  the 
garret  ran  from  a  right  angle  of  the  wall,  so 
that  the  table  could  be  stood  up  against  the  door, 
[with  the  bottom  of  the  four  legs  against  the 
.wall  opposite.  Some  books  chanced  to  be  handy, 
and  the  lads  were  able  to  place  these  against  the 
wall  under  the  feet  of  the  table  legs,  thus  wedging 
the  door  fast. 

"  Now  I  reckon  they'll  have  their  own  job  get- 
ting out !  "  cried  Tom,  grimly. 

"  Go  to  a  front  window  and  watch  the  road," 
ordered  his  big  brother.  "If  you  see  any  help 
coming,  call  them." 

Tom  at  once  departed,  to  station  himself  at 
the  window  of  one  of  the  front  bed  chambers, 
By  this  time  a  clattering  of  feet  could  be  heard 
on  the  garret  stairs. 

"  He  has  locked  the  door  on  us !  "  came  a  cry 
in  Jesse  Pelter's  voice. 

"How  did  he  get  free?"  asked  Japson.  "I 
thought  we  tied  him  good." 


244        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  He  cut  the  ropes ! "  cried  Josiah  Crabtree, 
"  But  how  he  got  hold  of  his  knife  to  do  it,  I 
can't  guess." 

Dick  had  to  smile  to  himself.  Evidently  the 
rascals  thought  his  father  had  liberated  himself 
and  turned  the  tables  on  them. 

"Hi,  Rover!  Are  you  out  there?5*  called 
Jesse  Pelter.  "If  you  are  you  had  better  un- 
lock that  door." 

To  this  call  Dick  did  not  answer. 

"  He  must  have  run  away ! "  exclaimed  Jap- 
son.  "  Break  the  door  down !  We  must  catch 
him!" 

"  That's  the  talk !  "  added  Josiah  Crabtree,  in 
great  excitement. 

"  Touch  the  door  at  your  peril ! "  cried  Dick, 
sharply.  "  I  am  armed  and  I  will  stand  no  non- 
sense ! " 

"Who  is  that?"  asked  Japson. 

"  That  wasn't  Rover's  voice,"  added  his  part- 
ner. 

"I  think  I  know  who  that  is,"  answered 
Josiah  Crabtree,  and  his  voice  commenced  to 
tremble.  "  Dick  Rover,  is  that  you  ?  "  he  called, 
faintly. 

"  Yes,  Don't  you  dare  to  touch  that  door, 
Crabtree,"  replied  Dick. 

"  Is  it  Dick  Rover  ?  "  questioned  Pelter. 


FROM   A    GARRET    WINDOW  245 

"  Yes." 

"Anderson  Rover's  oldest  son?  The  one  who 
was  in  the  rowboat  with  the  others?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  we  ihave  been  followed  after  all ! " 
shouted  Japson,  hoarsely.  "We  have  been 
trapped ! " 

"  You've  hit  the  nail  on  the  head,*'  called  out 
Dick.  "  Now,  don't  touch  that  door,  or  it  will 
be  the  worse  for  you." 

"  Is  he  alone  ?  "  whispered  Pelter. 

"  No,  I  am  not  alone !  "  answered  Dick.  "  Hi, 
Tom,  am  I  alone?"  he  called. 

"  Not  much !  "  answered  Tom.  "  We  are  all 
on  deck  here,  and  all  armed.  You  just  sit  still 
and  suck  your  thumbs  until  the  officers  come," 
he  added,  dryly. 

"  The  officers ! "  shrieked  Josiah  Crabtree, 
and  was  so  overcome  that  he  sank  down  on  one 
of  the  steps  of  the  stairs. 

"See  here,  Dick  Rover,"  said  Jesse  Pelter, 
after  a  pause-  "  Let  us  see  if  we  can't — er — 
|>atch  this  up  somehow." 

"  You  can  do  your  patching-up  after  you  are 
fin  jail,  Mr.  Pelter." 

"If  you  have  me  arrested,  boy,  you  will  be 
«orry  for  it ! "  growled  the  broker. 

"  We  can  ruin  your  family,  and  disgrace  your 


246        THE   ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

father,"  added  Japson.  "Better  let  us  go  and 
fix  this  up  without  the  police." 

"  No,  I  am  going  to  have  you  locked  up,"  re- 
plied Dick,  determinedly.  "  As  to  what  charge 
will  be  brought  against  you,  I'll  have  to  consult 
my  father  about  that  first." 

"  You  lock  us  up  and  you'll  get  nothing  out 
of  us!"  growled  Japson.  "We  can  ruin  your 
family,  and  we'll  do  it !  " 

"Can't  we  get  out  another  way?"  asked 
Josiah  Crabtree,  in  a  whisper. 

"  I  don't  think  so,"  said  the  owner  of  the 
house.  "  We  can  go  up  and  look  around." 

All  returned  to  the  garret  floor  and  walked  to 
one  window  and  the  other.  The  distance  to  the 
ground  was  all  of  twenty-five  feet,  too  far  for 
any  of  them  to  risk  a  drop. 

"  We  might  make  a  rope  of  these  old  blankets,'" 
suggested  Jesse  Pelter.  "  Talk  to  Rover  at  the 
door  while  I  try  it." 

His  partner  went  back  to  the  door,  while  the 
others  commenced  to  make  a  rope  by  tearing  a 
blanket  into  strips  and  tying  the  ends  together. 
The  back  window  was  raised  and  the  rope  low- 
ered. 

"  Nobody  ir  sight !  "  cried  Crabtree,  looking 
down.  "  Oh,  I  trust  we  can  get  away  from 


FROM   A    GARRET    WINDOW 


247 


them ! "  He  saw  a  term  in  prison  staring  him 
in  the  face. 

"  Don't  lose  any  time !  "  cried  Japson.  "  Here, 
tie  the  end  fast  to  that  old  bed.  Now  let  me  get 
out!" 

"  I'll  go  first ! "  cried  Josiah  Crabtree,  and 
shoved  the  broker  aside.  With  trembling  hands 
he  grasped  the  improvised  rope  and  slipped  out 
of  the  window. 

In  the  meantime  Dick  commenced  to  suspect 
that  all  was  not  right  and  called  to  Tom, 

"  Go  below  and  outside  and  look  at  those  win- 
dows," he  said.  "  If  they  try  to  drop,  shy  some 
stones  at  'em !  " 

"  I  will ! "  answered  Tom,  and  ran  down  the 
stairs  three  steps  at  a  time.  He  looked  up  at 
the  front  of  the  house  but  saw  nothing  unusual. 
Then  he  dashed  to  the  rear. 

*  Hi !  stop ! "  he  called  out,  as  he  saw  Josiah 

Crabtree  dangling  just  under  the  garret  window. 

"  Get  back  there,  or  I'll  fire  at  you ! "     And  look- 

^ing  around,  Tom  saw  a  sharp  stone  and  picked  it 

•up. 

As  he  did  this  there  was  a  sudden  tearing 
Sound,  and  the  blanket-rope  parted  at  the  point 
where  it  passed  over  the  window  sill.  Josiah 
Crabtree  uttered  a  wild  yell  of  terror  and  clutched 


248        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

vainly  at  the  sill  and  the  clapboards  under  it. 
Then  he  came  tumbling  to  the  ground,  doubling 
up  in  a  heap  as  he  did  so.  Tom  expected  him  to 
arise  and  run,  but  he  lay  still  where  he  had 
fallen. 

"  He's   hurt,    seriously   hurt ! "  muttered    the 
youth.     "  Maybe  he's  killed !  " 


CHAPTER  XXV 

WHAT    HAPPENED  TO   TOM 

TOM  glanced  up,  to  see  the  white  face  of  Jesse 
Pelter  peering  down  upon  him. 

"  You  had  better  let  us  out  of  this !  "  cried  the 
broker,  hoarsely. 

''  You  stay  where  you  are — if  you  know  what 
is  best  for  you ! "  returned  Tom. 

"  Is  he  dead? "  went  on  the  broker,  referring 
to  Crabtree. 

"  I  don't  know." 

The  youth  ran  up  to  the  former  school  teacher 
and  turned  him  over.  As  he  did  this  Josiah 
Crabtree  gave  a  gasp  and  a  groan  and  opened  his 
eyes. 

"Oh!  Oh!  what  a— a  fa— fall!" 

"If  you  hadn't  tried  to  get  away  it  wouldn't 
have  happened,"  returned  Tom,  briefly.  He 
could  have  but  little  sympathy  for  such  a  hard- 
ened  rascal. 

Josiah  Crabtree  sat  up  and  then  tried  to  get 
to  his  feet.     There  was  a  cut  on  his  forehead 
from  which  the  blood  was  flowing. 
249 


250        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

"  Oh !  oh ! "  cried  the  man  and  put  his  hand 
to  his  left  leg.  It  was  twisted  under  him  in  a 
peculiar  fashion.  To  get  up  on  it  was  impossi- 
ble, and  Crabtree  fell  back  with  a  cry  of  pain 
and  fright. 

"My  leg!  It  is  broken!  Oh,  what  shall  I 
do  ?  Rover,  please  help  me !  "  And  the  former 
teacher  turned  a  look  of  genuine  misery  on  Tom. 

"  Let  me  examine  it,"  said  the  boy,  in  a  more 
kindly  tone.  He  approached  the  man  and  felt 
of  the  injured  limb.  By  the  way  it  was  doubled 
up  Tom  felt  certain  it  must  be  broken,  perhaps 
in  two  places. 

"  I  don't  know  what  I  can  do,"  said  Tom.  "I 
guess  you  need  a  doctor.  I'll  carry  you  to  the 
barn,  if  you  say  so — or  into  the  house." 

"  Can't  you — you "  began  Josiah  Crabtree, 

and  then  another  look  of  pain  crossed  his  face 
and  he  fainted. 

Alarmed,  Tom  picked  up  the  tall,  thin  form 
and  carried  the  man  into  the  house,  for  it  was 
still  raining,  although  not  as  hard  as  beffore. 
He  placed  Crabtree  on  an  old  couch  in  the  sit- 
ting room  and,  getting  some  water,  laid  a  wet 
cloth  over  his  bruised  and  swelling  forehead. 
Knowing  but  little  about  broken  limbs,  he  did 
not  attempt  to  do  anything  for  the  broken  leg 
but  placed  that  member  out  in  a  somewhat 


THE   FORMER  TEACHER   TURNED   A    LOOK  OF    GENUINE   MISERt 

ON  TOM. — Page  250. 
Tttf  Rav«  Boys  tit  New  York. 


WHAT   HAPPENED    TO    TOM 

straight  position.  He  called  up  to  Dick  and  told 
his  brother  of  what  had  happened. 

"  Keep  the  other  fellows  up  there,  Tom ! " 
yelled  back  the  big  brother.  "  Don't  let  'em  get 
away ! " 

At  this  Tom  ran  out  of  the  house  once  more. 
With  the  fall  of  Crabtree  had  come  the  greater 
portion  of  the  blanket-rope.  Pelter  had  disap- 
peared from  the  window,  and  evidently  he  and 
Japson  were  in  consultation. 

"  See  here,  Rover,  we  want  to  talk  to  you ! " 
called  out  the  broker,  reappearing  at  the  window 
a  minute  later.  "  Call  your  brothers." 

"What  do  you  want?" 

"  We  want  to  fix  matters  up  with  you." 

"  You  can  do  that  after  you  are  in  jail." 

"You'll  gain  nothing  by  having  us  arrested.'* 

"  That  remains  to  be  seen." 

"  We  have  got  the  upper  hand  in  those  deals 
with  your  father  and  if  you  have  us  locked  up 
we  won't  let  go — no  matter  what  happens,"  put  in 
Japson. 

5<  We'll  make  you  let  go,"  returned  Tom,  with 
determination.  "  You  fellows  have  reached  the 
end  of  your  string,  and  the  sooner  you  realize  it 
the  better  it  will  be  for  you." 

"  Bah !  Do  you  think  we'll  give  up  the  things 
(we  have  fought  so  hard  to  get  ?  Not  much ! " 


252        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

While  Japson  was  speaking  Pelter  had  stepped 
back  into  the  garret.  Now  he  came  again 
to  the  window,  at  the  same  time  whispering  to 
his  companion. 

"  Hello,  Dixon!"  he  called,  as  if  to  somebody 
behind  Tom. 

As  was  but  natural,  the  youth  below  turned 
quickly,  thinking  some  friend  of  the  broker's 
had  appeared.  The  moment  Tom  turned,  Pelter 
hurled  something  down  at  him.  It  was  an  old 
wooden  footstool,  and  it  struck  the  youth 
squarely  on  the  head.  Down  went  poor  Tom  in 
the  grass,  senseless. 

"  Now  is  our  time ! "  exclaimed  Pelter. 
"  Quick,  with  that  other  rope !  " 

A  second  rope,  also  made  from  sections  of  a 
blanket — but  stronger  than  the  first — was  pro- 
duced. As  the  lower  end  struck  the  ground, 
Pelter  commenced  to  slide  down,  closely  followed 
by  his  partner.  Evidently  they  were  both  will- 
ing to  risk  their  lives  in  an  effort  to  escape.  The 
thought  of  going  to  jail  filled  them  with  grim 
terror. 

Reaching  the  ground,  neither  of  the  men  hesi- 
tated an  instant  over  what  to  do  next  The  man 
who  owned  the  place  knew  it  thoroughly,  and  he 
turned  in  the  direction  of  the  barn,  and  his  part- 
ner went  after  him.  They  crossed  a  back  lot, 


WHAT  HAPPENED   TO    TOM  253, 

and  then,  coming  to  a  side  road,  took  to  that, 
running  as  fast  as  their  wind  and  strength  per- 
mitted. 

In  the  meantime  Dick,  hearing  Crabtree  groan- 
ing, came  down  in  the  sitting  room  to  look  at  the 
sufferer.  The  man  was  still  flat  on  his  back. 

"Oh,  my  leg!"  he  groaned.  "Oh  my  leg! 
Can't  you  get  a  doctor?" 

"Perhaps, — later  on,"  answered  Dick. 

"  Oh,  Rever,  I  never  thought  I  would  come 
to  this !  "  whined  the  criminal.  "  Oh,  the  pain ! " 

"  We'll  do  what  we  can  for  you,  Crabtree. 
You  had  better  lie  still  for  the  present." 

Dick  listened  in  the  hallway.  As  nobody 
seemed  to  be  at  the  garret  stairway,  he  ran  out- 
side, to  learn  how  Tom  was  faring. 

"Tom!  Tom!  What  happened  to  you?" 
he  cried,  in  horror,  when  he  beheld  his  brother 
on  the  ground.  Then  he  saw  the  footstool  and 
a  cut  on  Tom's  head  and  understood  what  had 
occurred.  The  dangling  rope  told  the  rest  of 
the  story. 

"  They  have  gotten  away ! "  he  groaned. 
"  And  after  all  our  efforts  to  hold  them  prisoner sv. 
until  help  came !  Too  bad !  " 

He  wanted  to  go  after  the  brokers,  but  just 
now  his  concern  was  entirely  for  his  brother. 
He  turned  Tom  over  and  then  ran  for  some 


254        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

water.  When  he  returned  Tom  was  just  open- 
ing his  eyes. 

"  Dick !  Some — something  hi — hit  me !  " 
gasped  the  hurt  one. 

"  They  threw  that  wooden  footstool  at  you, 
Tom.  I'm  afraid  you're  badly  hurt." 

"  Am  I  ?  I — I  feel  mighty  queer,"  returned 
Tom,  and  then  he  closed  his  eyes  again. 

Dick  was  now  more  alarmed  than  ever.  He 
carried  his  brother  to  the  dining  room,  and  laid 
him  on  some  chairs,  with  a  doubled-up  blanket 
from  a  bed  for  a  pillow.  He  washed  Tom's 
head  and  bound  it  up  as  best  he  could.  Once 
or  twice  the  injured  youth  opened  his  eyes  for 
an  instant,  but  he  did  not  make  a  sound. 

"It  was  a  fearful  blow, — it  must  have  been!" 
thought  Dick.  "  I  hope  they  didn't  crack  his 
skull!" 

Josiah  Crabtree  was  still  groaning  in  the  next 
room,  but  Dick  paid  little  attention  to  the  man. 
Nor  did  he  think  of  the  rascals  who  had  escaped. 
All  his  thoughts  were  centered  on  Tom. 

"  If  I  only  knew  where  to  get  a  doctor,"  he 
mused.  Then  he  ran  out  of  the  house  by 
the  front  door  and  looked  up  and  down  the 
road. 

3C  carriage  was  approaching,  containing  three 
men.  As  it  drew  closer  Dick  saw  that  one  of 


WHAT   HAPPENED    TO    TOM  255' 

the  men  wore  a  shining  badge  on  his  coat  and 
carried  a  policeman's  club. 

"  Want  me  here  ?  "  he  cried,  on  catcking  sigh* 
of  the  youth. 

"  Are  you  a  policeman  ?  " 

"  I  am." 

"Then  come  right  in." 

The  policeman  and  the  other  two  men  fol- 
lowed Dick  into  the  house.  The  youth  took 
them  first  to  where  Josiah  Crabtree  lay. 

"  There  is  a  man  who  escaped  from  the  jail 
at  Plankville.  He  tried  to  get  out  of  a  garret 
window  and  had  a  fall.  I  guess  his  leg  is 
broken." 

"If  that's  the  case,  he  won't  need  much  watch- 
ing from  me,"  replied  the  policeman,  grimly. 

"  The  other  two  rascals  who  were  with  him  got 
away,  after  hitting  my  brother  with  a  footstool 
and  hurting  him  quite  badly.  Here  he  is.  Can 
I  get  a  doctor  anywhere  around  here?" 

"  Doctor  Martin  lives  up  the  road  about  half 
a  mile,"  said  the  man  who  had  driven  the  car- 
riage. 

"  Will  you  get  him  for  me,  just  as  soon  as  you 
can?" 

"  I  will,"  said  the  man,  and  went  off  at  once 
after  the  physician. 

While  he  was  gone  Dick  told  his  story  to  the 


£56        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

policeman  and  the  other  man,  who  was  a  local 
constable.  Both  listened  with  interest,  and  said 
they  would  make  a  hunt  for  Pelter  and  Japson. 
,  :c  They  may  go  back  to  New  York,"  said 
Dick.  "  If  they  do,  telephone  down  there  to 
fhave  them  arrested."  And  he  gave  the  address 
of  the  brokers'  offices. 

It  was  about  half  an  hour  later  when  Doctor 
Martin,  and  elderly  physician,  arrived.  Dick 
escorted  him  at  once  to  where  Tom  lay,  still  in 
a  semi-conscious  state. 

"A  bad  case,  I  am  afraid,"  said  the  doctor, 
after  a  brief  examination.  "  His  skull  may  be 
fractured.  We  had  better  get  him  to  the  hospi- 
tal at  once!" 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

DICK  TAKES  THE  REINS 

IT  WAS  long  after  dark  before  an  ambulance 
could  be  brought  to  the  old  house.  Tom  was 
still  unconscious,  in  fact  he  had  not  even  opened 
his  eyes  for  the  past  half  hour.  Dick's  heart 
was  filled  with  fear.  Was  it  possible  that  his 
brother,  so  full  of  fun  and  high  spirits,  was  so 
badly  hurt  that  he  was  going  to  die? 

"  No !  no !  Not  that !  "  groaned  poor  Dick, 
and  sent  up  an  earnest  prayer  to  heaven  that 
Tom  might  be  spared. 

The  doctor  had  said  that  Josiah  Crabtree's  leg 
was  broken  in  two  places,  above  and  below  the 
knee.  The  physician  had  done  what  he  could 
for  the  sufferer,  and  Crabtree  was  to  be  removed 
to  the  hospital  after  Tom  was  taken  there. 

Neither  the  policeman  nor  the  constable  had 
come  back  to  the  house,  so  Dick  did  not  know: 
whether  or  not  the  brokers  had  been  captured. 
To  tell  the  truth,  he  hardly  thought  of  the  men, 
so  anxious  was  he  concerning  Tom's  condition. 
257 


£58        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"  Can  I  go  to  the  hospital  with  you  ?  "  he  asked, 
when  tkey  were  about  to  take  Tom  away. 

"  If  you  wish,  Mr.  Rover,"  said  the  ambulance 
doctor.  "  Hop  up  on  the  seat  with  the  driver.'* 
\And  Dick  did  so. 

It  was  a  drive  of  several  miles  and  during 
that  time  Dick  said  but  little.  Once  Tom  roused 
up,  to  murmur  something  about  his  head,  but  that 
was  all. 

As  soon  as  the  hospital  was  reached,  Tom  was 
placed  in  a  private  room,  Dick  asking  for  such 
accommodations. 

"  Do  your  best  for  my  brother,"  said  he,  to 
those  in  attendance.  "  Don't  let  money  stand 
in  the  way.  I'll  see  that  all  bills  are  paid." 

"  We'll  have  the  best  doctor  we  can  get  for 
your  brother,"  answered  the  physician  in  attend- 
ance, and  then  he  sent  for  a  specialist. 

After  that  there  was  nothing  to  do  but  to  wait. 
Dick  went  down  to  the  office  and  called  up  the 
Outlook  Hotel  in  New  York  by  telephone.  He 
found  that  Sam  had  just  arrived  there  with  his 
father,  and  told  his  younger  brother  of  what  had 
occurred. 

"  Don't  worry  father  too  much  about  it,"  said 
he.  "  Maybe  it  will  all  come  out  right  in  the 
eifld — anyway  I  hope  so."  And,  then  he  told  Sam 
to  get  the  police  to  watch  the  offices  of  Pelter, 


DICK    TAKES   THE   REINS  259 

Japson  &  Company,  and  also  look  out  for  Bel- 
right  Fogg. 

Before  the  specialist  arrived  to  care  for  Tom, 
the  ambulance  came  back  with  Josiah  Crabtree. 
The  former  teacher  of  Putnam  Hall  showed  his 
cowardly  nature  by  groaning  dismally  every  time 
he  was  moved.  He  was  placed  in  a  public  ward, 
and  those  in  attendance  were  told  that  he  was  an 
escaped  prisoner  and  must  not  be  allowed  to  get 
away  again,  under  any  circumstances. 

"He  won't  try  it  himself  for  a  good  many 
sveeks,"  said  one  of  the  doctors,  grimly.  "  Those 
breaks  are  bad  ones.  He'll  be  lucky  if  he  gets 
over  them." 

At  last  the  specialist  came  and  took  charge  of 
Torn.  For  over  an  hour  Dick  waited  for  a  re- 
port on  his  brother's  condition.  When  the 
specialist  came  to  the  youth  he  looked  unusually 
grave. 

"Your  brother's  case  is  a  peculiar  one,  Mr. 
Rover,"  said  he.  "I  do  not  find  any  crack  in 
the  skull.  But  he  has  received  a  great  shock, 
and  what  the  outcome  of  that  will  be  I  cannot 
say." 

"  You  don't  think  he  will— will  die?  "  faltered 
Dick,  hardly  able  to  frame  the  words. 

"Hardly  as  bad  as  that,  Mr.  Rover.  But 
the  shock  has  been  a  heavy  one,  and  he  will  need 


260        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

close  attention  for  some  time.     I  will  come  in 
again  to-morrow  morning  and  see  him." 

"Well,  do  your  best,"  said  Dick,  brokenly. 

"I  always  do  that,"  answered  Doctor  Gar- 
rison, gravely. 

There  were  no  accommodations  for  Dick  at 
J:he  hospital,  so  he  found  a  room  at  a  hotel  sev- 
eral blocks  away.  From  the  hotel  he  sent  another 
telephone  message  to  Sam,  telling  him  what  the 
specialist  had  said.  Then  he  asked  Sam  if  he 
would  come  up. 

"  If  you'll  do  that  I  can  go  down  and  help 
father,"  he  added. 

"  All  right — I'll  come  up  to-night  or  first  thing 
in  the  morning,"  said  Sam. 

It  was  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  the 
youngest  Rover  boy  appeared.  He  was  as  anx- 
ious as  Dick  concerning  Tom,  and  both  waited 
for  the  specialist  to  appear  and  report.  Tom  had 
regained  consciousness  for  a  few  minutes,  but 
that  was  all. 

"  He  is  no  worse,"  reported  Doctor  Garrison. 
"  I  hope  to  see  him  improved  by  this  afternoon 
I  will  call  again  about  three  o'clock."  And  then 
he  left  directions  with  the  nurse  as  to  what  should 
be  done. 

"  This  is  terrible,  Dick ! "  murmured  Sam, 
when  the  brothers  were  alone,  in  the  room  at  the 


DICK    TAKES    THE   REINS  26l 

hotel.     "  Poor  Tom !     I  can't  bear  to  see  him 
lay  as  he  does ! " 

"  I  feel  the  same  way,  Sam,"  answered  Dick. 
"  But  I  think  I  ought  to  go  down  to  New  York 
and  help  father  with  his  business  affairs.  He 
isn't  well  enough  to  do  anything  alone." 

"  That's  true,  Dick ;  and  this  news  about  Tom 
has  upset  him  worse  than  ever." 

A  little  later  they  separated,  Sam  promising  to 
send  word  both  to  New  York  city  and  to  Valley 
View  farm  as  soon  as  there  was  any  change  in 
Tom's  condition.  Dick  hurried  to  the  railroad 
station  and  a  little  later  got  a  train  that  took  him 
to  the  Grand  Central  Depot. 

The  youth  found  his  father  at  the  rooms  in 
the  Outlook  Hotel,  he  having  promised  to  remain 
there  until  Sam  returned,  or  Dick  arrived.  Mr. 
Rover  looked  much  careworn,  and  Dick  realized 
more  than  ever  that  his  parent  was  in  no  physical 
or  mental  condition  to  transact  business. 

"You  ought  to  return  to  the  farm  and  rest, 
^Father,"  said  ke,  kindly. 

"  I  must  fix  up  these  papers  first,  Dick,"  was 
the  answer.  "But  tell  me  about  poor  Tom! 
Oh,  to  think  that  those  villains  should  strike  him 
8own  that  way !  " 

"  They  are  desperate  and  will  stop  at  nothing 
sow,"  answered  the  son. 


262        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

Then  he  told  as  much  as  he  could  about  his 
stricken  brother.  Anderson  Rover  shook  his 
head  sadly. 

"  I  am  afraid  he  will  never  get  over  it,  Dick !  " 
he  groaned. 

"  Let  us  hope  for  the  best,  Father,"  answered 
the  son,  as  bravely  as  he  could. 

Then  he  questioned  his  father  about  the  in- 
vestments in  the  Sunset  Irrigation  Company  and 
in  the  lands  out  west,  and  soon  the  pair  were  go- 
ing over  the  matters  carefully. 

"  I  think  we  need  the  services  of  a  firs^-class 
lawyer — one  we  can  trust  absolutely,"  said  Dick. 

"But  where  can  you  find  such  a  lawyer?" 
asked  the  father. 

"  Oh,  there  must  be  plenty  of  them."  Dick 
thought  for  a  moment.  "  One  of  my  best  chums 
at  Putnam  Hall  and  at  Brill  was  John  Powell — 
Songbird.  You  know  him.  He  has  an  uncle 
here,  Frank  Powell,  who  is  a  lawyer.  The  fam- 
ily are  well-connected.  Perhaps  this  Frank 
Powell  may  be  the  very  man  we  need.  I  can 
call  him  up  on  the  telephone  and  find  out." 

"  Do  as  you  think  best,  Dick,"  sighed  Mr. 
Rover.  "  From  now  on  I  shall  leave  these  busi- 
ness matters  in  your  hands.  I  realize  that  I  am 
too  feeble  to  attend  to  them  properly." 

Dick  lost  no  time  in  communication  with  Mr. 


DICK   TAKES   THE   REINS  263 

Frank  A.  A.  Powell,  as  his  name  appeared  in  the 
telephone  book.  When  the  youth  explained 
;who  he  was  the  lawyer  said  he  would  be  glad  t© 
imeet  the  Rovers.  His  office  was  not  far  from 
the  Outlook  Hotel,  and  he  said  he  would  call  at 
once,  Dick  explaining  that  his  father  was  not 
feeling  very  well. 

Mr.  Powell's  coming  inspired  Dick  with  imme- 
diate confidence.  He  was  a  clean-cut  man,  with 
a  shrewd  manner  but  a  look  of  absolute  honesty. 

"  My  nephew  has  often  spoken  of  you,"  he 
said,  shaking  handis  with  Dick.  "  I  shall  be 
pleased  to  do  what  I  can  for  you." 

"  It's  a  complicated  case,"  answered  Dick. 
"  My  father  can  tell  you  about  it  first,  and  then 
I'll  tell  you  what  I  know,  and  show  you  all  our 
papers." 

A  talk  lasting  over  an  hour  followed.  The 
lawyer  asked  many  questions,  and  studied  the 
yarious  documents  with  interest. 

"  From  what  I  can  make  out,  Mr.  Rover,  that 
concern — Pelter,  Japson  &  Company — are  a  set 
of  swindlers,"  said  he,  at  last.  "  If  I  were  you  I'd 
close  down  on  them  at  once,  and  with  the  heav- 
iest possible  hand.  To  give  them  any  leeway  at 
all  might  be  fatal  to  your  interests." 

"Do  as  you  think  best, —  with  Dick's  ad- 
vice," returned  Mr.  Rover.  "I  am  going  to 


264        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

leave  my  business  affairs  in  his  hands  after  this," 
he  added. 

"  Then  we'll  go  ahead  at  once !  "  cried  the  law- 
yer. "  I  will  draw  up  the  necessary  papers  and 
you  can  sign  them.  We'll  get  after  that  whole 
bunch  hot- footed !  " 

"And  don't  spare  them,"  added  Dick,  think- 
ing of  poor  Tom.  "  They  deserve  all  that  is 
coming  to  them." 

"And  they'll  get  it,"  said  the  lawyer,  briefly. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

DAN    BAXTER    GIVES    AID 

THE  next  morning  was  a  busy  one  for  Dick. 
He  visited  the  lawyer's  office  at  an  early  hour 
and  then  went  to  the  police  station. 

"  We  are  watching  those  offices  in  Wall 
street,"  said  the  officer  at  the  desk  in  the  station. 
"  But  so  far  neither  Pelter  nor  Japson  has  shown 
himself.  The  clerks  say  they  are  out  of  town — 
one  in  Boston  and  the  other  in  Philadelphia,  but 
can't  give  any  addresses." 

"Well,  don't  let  up  on  the  watch,"  replied 
Dick.  "  We  want  to  get  them  if  it  can  possibly 
be  done.  I  may  have  another  charge  to  make 
against  them,"  and  he  told  of  how  Tom  had  been 
struck  with  the  footstool  and  was  now  in  the 
hospital. 

"They  sure  must  be  rascals,"  returned  the 
man  at  the  desk.  "Well,  we'll  do  all  we  can. 
But  maybe  they've  cleared  out  for  good." 

Towards  noon  came  a  telephone  message  from 
Sam  to  the  hotel.  Dick  had  just  come  in  and  he 

answered  it. 

265 


"  Tom  is  a  little  better,"  said  the  youngest 
Rover.  "  He  is  conscious  and  has  asked  about 
dad  and  you.  He  has  taken  a  little  nourishment, 
too." 

"  What  does  the  doctor  say  about  the  case  ?  r 
questioned  Dick,  anxiously. 

"  He  said  it  is  a  strange  case  and  that  he  will 
watch  it  closely.  I  heard  him  say  to  the  nurse 
to  watch  Tom  very  closely." 

"Why,  that  he  was  so  low?" 

"  No,  that  he  might  go  out  of  his  mind.  Oh, 
Dick,  wouldn't  that  be  awful!"  and  Sam's  voice 
showed  his  distress. 

"  You  mean  that  he  might  go — go  insane,  or 
something  like  that?  " 

"  Yes, — not  for  always,  you  understand,  but 
temporarily." 

"  Well,  all  they  can  do  is  to  watch  him,  Sam. 
And  you  keep  close  by,  in  case  anything  more 
happens,"  added  Dick,  and  then  told  his  brother 
of  what  had  been  done  in  the  metropolis  to- 
wards straightening  out  the  business  tangle. 

Mr.  Powell  was  to  see  some  people  in  Brook- 
lyn regarding  the  land  deal  in  which  Anderson 
Rover  held  an  interest,  and  he  had  asked  Dick 
to  meet  him  in  that  borough  at  four  o'clock.  At 
three  o'clock  Dick  left  the  Outlook  Hotel  to  keep 
the  engagement. 


DAN   BAXTER    GIVES   AID  267 

"  You  had  better  stay  here  until  I  get  back,  in 
case  any  word  comes  in  about  Tom,"  said  he  to- 
his  father. 

"  Very  well,  Dick;  I  shall  be  glad  of  the  rest," 
replied  Anderson  Rover. 

He  had  already  given  the  particulars  of  how 
he  had  been  kidnapped  while  on  his  way  to  meet 
Japson.  The  broker  had  come  up  accompanied 
by  the  disguised  Crabtree,  and  he  had  been 
forced  into  a  taxicab  and  a  sponge  saturated 
with  chloroform  had  been  held  to  his  nose.  He 
had  become  unconscious,  and  while  in  that  con- 
dition had  been  taken  to  some  house  up  in  Har- 
lem. From  there  he  had  been  transferred  to 
the  Ellen  Rodney  on  the  evening  before  the  boys 
had  discovered  his  whereabouts. 

"  They  treated  me  very  harshly,"  Mr.  Rover 
had  said.  "  Mr.  Crabtree  was  particularly 
mean." 

"  Well,  he  is  suffering  for  it,"  Dick  had  an- 
swered. "  Sam  telephoned  that  his  leg  was  in 
very  bad  shape  and  the  doctors  thought  he  would 
be  a  cripple  for  life." 

To  get  to  Brooklyn  Dick  took  the  subway, 
crossing  under  the  East  River.  He  did  not 
know  much  about  the  place,  but  had  received  in- 
structions how  to  reach  the  offices  where  he  was 
to  meet  Mr.  Powell  and  the  others. 


268        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

There  was  a  great  rush  on  the  streets,  owing  to 
a  small  fire  in  the  vicinity.  Dick  stopped  for  a 
minute  to  watch  a  fire  engine  at  work  on  a  cor- 
ner, and  as  he  did  so,  somebody  tapped  him  on 
>ihe  shoulder. 

"  Dick  Rover !  of  all  people ! "  came  the 
exclamation.  "  What  are  you  doing  in  Brook- 
lyn?" 

Dick  turned  quickly,  to  find  himself  confronted 
by  a  tall,  heavy-set  youth,  dressed  in  a  business 
suit. 

"  Dan  Baxter! "  he  cried.  "  How  are  you?  " 
and  he  shook  hands. 

As  my  old  readers  well  know,  Dan  Baxter  was 
an  old  acquaintance  of  the  Rover  boys.  When 
at  Putnam  Hall  he  had  been  a  great  bully,  and 
had  tried  more  than  once  to  get  the  best  of  our 
heroes.  But  he  had  been  foiled,  and  then  he  had 
drifted  to  the  West  and  South,  and  there  the 
Rovers  had  found  him,  away  from  home  and 
practically  penniless.  They  had  set  him  on  his 
feet,  and  he  had  gotten  a  position  as  a  traveling 
salesman,  and  now  he  counted  the  Rovers  his 
•best  friends,  and  was  willing  to  do  anything  for 
them. 

"  Oh,  I'm  pretty  well,"  answered  Dan  Baxter, 
with  a  grin.  "  My  job  agrees  with  me." 

"  What  are  you  doing,  Dan  ?  " 


DAN   BAXTER    GIVES   AID  269 

"  Oh,  I'm  still  selling  jewelry  • —  doing  first- 
rate,  too,"  added  the  former  bully,  a  bit  proudly. 

"  I  am  mighty  glad  to  hear  it." 

"  Ho*v  are  you  and  the  others  getting  along, 
Dick  ?  '*  went  on  Baxter  curiously.  "  Thought 
you  were  at  Brill  College." 

"  I'm  here  on  business,"  and  Dick  gave  the 
other  a  brief  account  of  what  had  happened. 

"  Sorry  Tom  got  hurt  and  hope  he  will  come 
out  all  right,"  said  Dan  Baxter,  sympathetically. 
"  But  who  are  those  men  you  mentioned  ?  " 

"  A  firm  of  brokers,  named  Pelter,  Japson  & 
Company." 

"  What !  "  ejaculated  Dan  Baxter.  "  Did  you 
say  Japson?  " 

"Yes,  Dan.     Do  you  know  him?" 

"  Sure  I  do.  He  used  to  be  in  a  jewelry  firm 
in  Albany.  They  tried  to  stick  our  firm — but 
we  shut  down  on  'em.  But  that  isn't  all,  Dick. 
I  saw  Japson  to-day — not  two  hours  ago." 

"You  did?  Where?"  And  now  Dick  was 
all  attention. 

"  I  visited  a — er — a  lady  friend  of  mine. 
She  lives  in  an  apartment  house  near  Prospect- 
Park.  I  might  as  well  tell  you  that  some  day  we 
are  going  to  be  married.  Well,  when  I  was 
coming  out  of  the  place  I  saw  Japson  go  in — 
he  and  two  other  men." 


270        THE   ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"  Dan,  show  me  that  place — and  do  it  as 
quickly  as  possible !  "  cried  Dick.  "  Come  on — 
don't  tell  me  you  can't  I'll  pay  you  for  your 
time ! "  And  Dick  caught  the  other  youth  by 
the  arm. 

"  I'll  do  it  willingly,  Dick,  and  there  won't  be 
any  time  to  pay  for,  even  if  it  takes  a  week!" 
cried  Dan  Baxter.  "  I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  do 
you  a  favor,  indeed  I  am ! "  And  he  gazed  ad- 
miringly at  the  oldest  Rover  boy.  "  Just  you 
come  with  me." 

Dan  Baxter  led  the  way  to  the  nearest  elevated 
station  and  they  ran  upstairs  to  the  platform  and 
soon  boarded  a  car  bound  for  the  vicinity  of 
Prospect  Park. 

"  The  young  lady  lives  in  the  Nirwick  Apart- 
ments," explained  Baxter.  "  It  is  a  big  place, 
with  elevator  service.  I  don't  know  to  which 
apartment  Japson  went,  but  maybe  the  elevator 
man  can  tell  us." 

"  Describe  the  other  two  men  to  me,  if  you 
can,  Dan." 

The  yotmg  traveling  salesman  did  so,  and  Dick 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  one  of  the  men  must 
have  been  Pelter.  The  identity  of  the  third  was 
a  mystery. 

"  Maybe  it  was  that  Belright  Fogg,"  thought 
the  youth.  "Well,  I'll  soon  find  out — if  they 


DAN    BAXTER    GIVES   AID 


271 


are  still  at  the  apartment  house — and  I  hope  they 
are." 

At  last  the  elevated  train  reached  the  proper 
station  and  Dick  and  Baxter  alighted.  The  lat- 
ter led  the  way  for  a  distance  of  two  blocks. 

"  There  is  the  apartment,"  said  Baxter,  point- 
ing the  building  out.  "If  you  want  those  men 
arrested,  hadn't  you  better  call  a  policeman  or 
two?" 

"  I  can  do  that  later, — after  I  have  spotted 
them/'  answered  Dick. 

A  colored  man  ran  the  elevator.  He  had  often 
seen  Dan  and  knew  him. 

"  The  gentlemen  you  mean  went  up  to  the 
fourth  floor — to  the  apartment  that  was  rented 
last  week." 

"  May  I  ask  who  rented  it?  "  asked  Dick. 

"A  lawyer,  sah — a  Mr.  Fogg.  He's  got  a 
queer  first  name." 

"Belright?" 

"  That's  it,  sah ;  Belright  Fogg." 

"Just  as  I  thought,"  murmured  Dick. 
"They  didn't  go  out,  did  they?" 

"  I  don't  think  they  did.  I  didn't  see  'em,  and 
I  don't  think  tfaey  would  go  downstairs  without 
using  the  elevator,  although  they  could  use  f&e 

stairs." 

"  Which  apartment  is  it?  " 


272        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW   YORK 

"  On  the  fourth  floor — the  apartment  in  front, 
on  the  right,"  answered  the  elevator  man. 

"  I'll  go  up,"  said  Dick.  He  motioned  Bax- 
ter to  one  side,  "  Dan,  will  you  go  out  and  get 
a  policeman  or  two,  just  as  quickly  as  you  can?  " 
he  whispered. 

"  I  will,"  returned  the  young  traveling  sales- 
man, and  hurried  out  on  the  street  again. 

Dick  stepped  into  the  elevator  and  in  a  few 
seconds  was  deposited  on  the  fourth  floor  of  the 
apartment  house.  He  walked  to  the  front  and 
to  the  right,  and  stopped  in  front  of  one  of  the 
doors.  From  the  room  beyond  came  a  murmur 
of  voices.  He  listened  intently.  The  voices 
[were  those  of  Pelter,  Japson  and  Fogg. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

THE  CAPTURE 

WITH  bated  breath  Dick  knelt  at  the  door  and 
applied  his  ear  to  the  keyhole.  At  first  he  could 
hear  only  indistinctly,  but  gradually  he  caught 
the  drift  of  the  conversation  between  the  ras- 
cally brokers  and  the  former  railroad  lawyer. 

"Then  you  want  me  to  date  those  papers  a 
week  back?"  he  heard  Belright  Fogg  ask. 

"  That's  it,"  answered  Pelter. 

"And  remember,  we  signed  them  just  before 
we  went  to  the  West,"  added  Japson. 

"  And  remember  also  that  you  saw  us  take  a 
train  at  the  Grand  Central  Depot,"  went  on  Pel- 
ter. 

"Oh,  I'll  remember  that,"  returned  the  law- 
yer, with  a  sly  chuckle.  "And  I'll  remember 
also  that  I  got  two  telegrams  from  you — one 
from  Chicago  and  one  from  Detroit."  And  he 
laughed  again. 

"  That  alibi  ought  to  fix  us  up,"  remarked  Jap- 
273 


^274   THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

son.  "Anyway,  it  will  set  the  authorities  to 
guessing." 

"  It  will  help,  provided  that  fellow,  Crabtree, 
doesn't  squeel,"  said  Pelter.  "  He  gave  his  word, 
when  we  were  in  the  garret,  that  he  would  keep 
mum,  no  matter  what  happened.  But  if  he 
was  badly  hurt  he  may  have  told  everything." 

"  Fogg,  you  must  try  to  see  him  in  the  hospi- 
tal," said  Japson.  ."  Tell  him  it  will  do  no  good 
for  him  to  tell  anything,  and  that,  if  he  keeps 
mum,  we  will  remain  his  friends  and  do  all  we 
possibly  can  for  him." 

"You  are  piling  a  lot  of  work  on  my  shoul- 
ders," grumbled  the  lawyer.  "And  shady 
work,  too.  What  do  I  get  out  of  this?  " 

"  You  know  what  I  promised  you,"  answered 
Jesse  Pelter. 

"A  thousand  isn't  enough.  Just  look  at  the 
risk  I  am  running." 

"  Well,  if  you  help  us  to  clear  ourselves, 
we'll  make  it  two  thousand  dollars,"  cried  Jap- 
son.  He  paused  a  moment.  "  Quite  a  swell 
apartment,  Fogg." 

"  It's  good  enough." 

"  Why  can't  we  stay  here  for  a  day  or  two  ?  " 
questioned  Japson. 

"  I — er — suppose  you  could,"  answered  the 
lawyer,  with  some  hesitation.  "  But  don't  you 


THE    CAPTURE 

think  you  would  be  better  off  out  of  the  State, 
or  in  Canada?  " 

"  That's  what  I  say !  "  cried  Pelter.  "  Canada 
for  mine.  I've  been  wanting  to  visit  Montreal 
,  and  Quebec.  Now  is  our  chance." 

"All  right,  whatever  you  say,"  answered  Jap- 
son.  "  Maybe  we  would  be  safer  out  of  the 
country  until  this  matter  blew  over.  Hang  the 
luck!  It  was  too  bad  to  have  Rover  get  away 
from  us  as  he  did.  If  we  could  have  held  him 
back  a  couple  of  days  longer  that  land  and  maybe 
those  stocks  would  have  been  ours." 

"  He's  got  some  smart  sons,  that  man,"  ob- 
served Fogg.  "  I  know,  for  I  once  ran  up 
against  them,"  and  he  told  about  the  biplane  in- 
cident. 

"  They  are  altogether  too  smart,"  growled 
Pelter.  "I'd  like  to  wring  their  necks  for 
'em!" 

"  Well,  we'll  turn  the  trick  on  'em  yet,"  said 
Japson.  "  Remember,  the  game  isn't  ended  until 
the  last  card  is  played." 

"  That's,  right,"  thought  Dick.  "  And  it  won't 
:  be  long  before  I  play  the  last  card ! " 

"  After  this  affair  is  a  thing  of  the  past,  I  am 
going  after  those  business  interests  of  the  Rov- 
ers," went  on  Jesse  Pelter.  "  They  are 
pretty  well  tangled  up — they  got  so  while  Rover 


276       THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

was  sick.  I  think  we  can  make  something  out 
of  them  yet." 

"Not  if  I  know  it,"  murmured  Dick,  to  him- 
self. "  You  are  a  first-class  fellow  to  put  in 
jail — you  and  the  others,  too ! " 

The  talk  in  the  apartment  went  on,  covering 
the  things  Belright  Fogg  was  to  do  while  Pelter 
and  Japson  were  in  hiding  in  Canada.  The 
unscrupulous  lawyer  was  to  produce  a  power  of 
attorney  dated  some  days  before,  so  that  he 
might  act  in  place  of  the  brokers.  He  was  also 
to  do  his  best  to  help  the  brokers  prove  an  alibi 
when  accused  of  the  abduction  of  Anderson 
Rover. 

"  I'm  getting  dry,"  remarked  Japson,  pres- 
ently. "  Fogg,  haven't  you  got  something  to 
drink,  and  some  cigars?" 

"  Sure  I  have,"  answered  the  lawyer,  and  Dick 
heard  him  leave  the  apartment  and  go  into  a 
dining-room. 

While  Dick  was  listening  at  the  door  he  also 
kept  his  ears  open  for  the  return  of  Dan  Bax- 
ter. Presently  he  heard  the  elevator  come  up- 
stairs, and  then  there  sounded  a  low  whistle — a 
whistle  Dick  had  heard  many  times  while  he  was 
a  cadet  at  Putnam  Hall. 

Eagerly  the  oldest  Rover  boy  tiptoed  his  way 
down  the  corridor.  Baxter  came  forward  to 


THE    CAPTURE  27? 

meet  him,  accompanied  by  two  policemen,  anc 
the  elevator  man,  who  wanted  to  know  what  the 
trouble  was. 

"The  two  brokers  are  in  that  room,"  whis- 
pered  Dick,  pointing  to  the  door  of  the  apart- 
ment. "  They  are  planning  to  skip  out  to  Can- 
ada and  leave  their  affairs  in  the  hands  of  the 
lawyer  who  has  rented  this  apartment.  He  is 
almost  as  much  of  a  rascal  as  any  of  them,  for 
he  is  to  take  their  power  of  attorney  dated  some 
days  back,  and  is  going  to  try  to  prove  an 
alibi  for  them.  I  heard  'em  arrange  the  whole 
thing." 

"The  rascals!"  murmured  Baxter.  "Glad 
you  cornered  'em,  Dick." 

"  You  helped,  Dan— I  shan't  forget  that,"  re- 
turned Dick,  warmly. 

"What  do  you  want  us  to  do?"  asked  one 
pf  the  policemen. 

"  I  want  all  three  men  arrested,"  answered 
Dick.  "  I'll  make  a  charge  against  them.  Don't 
let  'em  get  away.  They'll  do  it  if  it's  possible." 

"  All  right,  but  you  must  come  along  to  make 
the  charge,"  answered  the  bluecoat. 

"All  right." 

"  Please  don't  make  no  more  row  in  the  house 
than  you  can  help,"  put  in  the  elevator^  man. 
"This  is  a  swell  apartment  and  we  don't  like 


278        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

rows.  I  didn't  know  that  lawyer  who  took  tms 
apartment  was  a  crook." 

"  We'll  do  the  job  as  quietly  as  possible,"  an- 
swered the  second  policeman,  who  chanced  to 
know  the  elevator  man. 

"  Dan,  I  think  you  can  help  me  out,"  suggested 
Dick.  "  You  might  go  to  the  door  and  call  out 
that  there  is  a  telegram  for  Belright  Fogg.  Then, 
when  he  opens  the  door,  push  into  the  room  and 
we'll  follow." 

"  Want  me  to  help  ?  "  asked  the  elevator  man, 
who  was  becoming  interested. 

"If  you  will,"  said  Dick.  " You  can  guard 
the  stairs — so  they  can't  run  down  that  way." 

"Til  do  it." 

Without  further  delay  Dan  Baxter  walked  to 
the  door  at  which  Dick  had  been  listening.  He 
chanced  to  have  an  old  telegram  envelope  in  his 
pocket  and  this  he  produced.  He  knocked  loudly 
on  the  portal. 

"  Who  is  there?  "  cried  the  lawyer,  in  a  some- 
what startled  voice,  and  Baxter  heard  several 
.chairs  shifted  back  as  the  occupants  of  the  apart- 
ment leaped  to  their  feet 

"Telegram  for  Mr.  Fogg— Belright  Fogg!" 
drawled  Dan,  in  imitation  of  an  A.  D.  T.  youth. 

"A  telegram,  eh?"  muttered  the  lawyer. 
"  Wonder  what  is  up  now  ?  " 


THE    CAPTURE 


279 


He  came  to  the  door  and  unlocked  it  cautiously. 
He  was  going  to  open  it  only  a  few  inches;  to 
peer  out,  but  Baxter  threw  his  weight  against 
the  portal,  Bending  the  lawyer  backwards  and 
bumping  into  Jesse  Pelter. 

"  Hi,  what's  this  ? "  stammered  Belrighc 
Fogg.  "  What  do  you  mean  by " 

He  got  no  further,  for  at  that  instant  Dick 
came  into  the  apartment,  closely  followed  by  the 
two  policemen. 

At  once  there  was  a  wild  commotion.  Pelter 
and  Japson  let  out  yells  of  alarm,  and  both  tried 
to  back  away,  into  the  next  room.  But  Dick 
,was  too  quick  for  them  and  barred  their  prog- 
ress. 

"  Let  me  go ! "  yelled  Pelter,  and  tried  to  hurl 
Dick  to  one  side.  Then  Japson  struck  out  with 
his  fist,  but  the  oldest  Rover  boy  dodged. 

"  So  that's  your  game,  is  it?  "  cried  Dan  Bax- 
ter, as  he  saw  the  attack.  "Two  can  play  at 
that !  "  And  drawing  back,  the  young  traveling 
salesman  hit  Japson  a  blow  on  the  chin  that- 
bowled  the  broker  over  like  a  tenpin. 

In  the  meantime  Dick  had  grappled  with  Pel- 
ter and  was  holding  the  rascally  broker  against 
the  wall.  One  of  the  policemen  already  held 
Fogg,  who  was  trembling  from  head  to  foot  in 
sudden  panic. 


28o        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW    YORK 

"Surrender,  in  the  name  of  the  law!"  said 
the  bluecoat.  And  he  made  a  move  as  if  to 
draw  a  pistol. 

"I — I  sur — render!"  gasped  Belright  Fogg, 
and  up  went  his  hands,  tremblingly. 

The  other  policeman  produced  a  pair  of  hand- 
cuffs and  in  a  twinkling  they  were  slipped  upon 
Japson's  wrist.  Then  the  bluecoats  turned  to- 
wards Pelter. 

"  You  shan't  arrest  me ! "  yelled  that  broker, 
savagely,  and  with  a  wrench,  he  tore  himself 
from  Dick's  grasp  and  started  through  the  rooms 
to  the  rear  of  the  apartment. 


CHAPTER   XXIX 

BROUGHT    TO    TERMS 

"  STOP  him  i  " 

"He  must  not  get  away!" 

Such  were  some  of  the  cries  that  echoed 
through  the  apartment  as  Jesse  Pelter  ran  for 
the  rear  room. 

He  knew  there  was  a  fire  escape  there  and 
thought  he  might  reach  the  ground  from  that. 

But  Dick  was  at  his  heels,  determined  that  the 
broker  should  not  escape  if  he  could  possibly 
prevent  it. 

The  window  to  the  fire  escape  was  open,  for 
a  maid  in  the  kitchen  had  just  set  out  some 
cooked  dish  to  cool. 

Pelter  made  a  leap  for  the  window,  nearly 
scaring  the  maid  into  a  fit.  She  screamed  loudly, 
and  as  she  did  so  Dick  made  a  wild  leap  and 
caught  Pelter  by  the  foot. 

"  Let  go,  Rover !  "  yelled  the  broker,  hoarsely. 

"  I  won't !    You  are  not  going  to  get  away, 

Pelter." 

281 


282        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

There  was  a  struggle,  and  the  broker  aimed  a 
blow  at  Dick's  head.  Then  the  oldest  Rover  boy 
suddenly  caught  the  rascal  by  the  neck  and 
banged  his  head  vigorously  against  the  window 
casing. 

"  Ouch !  Don't !  "  groaned  the  broker.  "  Oh, 
my  skull  is  broken!" 

"  Then  keep  still,"  answered  Dick,  grimly, 
and  he  continued  to  hold  the  man.  Soon  one 
of  the  policemen  came  up,  and  then,  much 
against  his  will,  the  head  of  the  firm  of  Pelter, 
Japson  &  Company  was  handcuffed  like  his  part- 
ner in  crime. 

"You'll  suffer  for  this,  Rover;  see  if  you 
don't ! "  growled  Jesse  Pelter,  after  the  excite- 
ment was  over.  "  I  have  done  nothing  wrong, 
and  I  can  prove  it.  This  is  all  a  plot  on  the  part 
of  you  and  your  family  to  get  our  firm  into 
trouble." 

"  You  can  do  your  talking  when  you  are  in 
jail,"  answered  Dick,  briefly.  "  I  know  what  I 
am  doing." 

"  Maybe  you  got  Crabtree  to  hatch  up  a  story 
against  us,"  came  from  Japson. 

"Never  mind  what  Crabtree  confessed,"  said 
Dick.  "  You'll  get  what  is  coming  to  you,  never 
fear." 

"  I  guess  I  had  better  send  in  a  call  for  the 


BROUGHT   TO    TERMS  283 

patrol  wagon,"  said  one  of  the  policemen.  "  Can 
you  watch  'em,  Jake  ?  " 

"Sure,"  answered  the  second  blueeoat.  "I 
guess  the  young  fellows  will  help." 

"  I  will/'  said  Dick. 

"  So  will  I,"  put  in  Dan.  He  turned  to  Dick. 
"  I'm  mighty  glad  to  be  of  service  to  you.  It 
kind  of  helps  to — to — pay  off  old  scores,  eh?" 
he  faltered. 

"Yes,  Dan;  you  are  doing  us  a  great  service, 
and  I  shan't  forget  it,"  returned  Dick,  with 
warmth. 

A  number  of  tenants  in  the  apartment  house 
had  been  alarmed  by  what  was  going  on,  and 
among  them  were  the  girl  Baxter  was  engaged 
to  marry,  and  her  mother.  Dan  quickly  ex- 
plained matters  to  them,  and  introduced  Dick, 
and  the  latter  told  of  the  service  Baxter  had 
done.  Then  the  police  patrol  wagon  came  along, 
and  the  prisoners  and  the  others  went  below. 

"  Maybe  I  had  better  go  to  headquarters  with 
you,"  suggested  Dan  to  Dick. 

"  Yes,  you'll  have  to  go,"  put  in  one  of  the 
policemen. 

The  ride  was  not  a  long  one,  and  as  soon  as 
the  prisoners  were  brought  in,  Dick  explained 
the  situation  and  asked  that  the  authorities  in 
Brooklyn  communicate  with  those  in  New  York 


284        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW.   YORK 

This  was  done,  and  then  Pelter,  Japson,  and 
-Fogg  were  held  for  a  further  hearing. 

"  Can't  we  get  bail  ?  "  demanded  the  lawyer. 

""  Certainly,  if  you  wish,"  was  the  reply.  And 
then  the  amount  was  fixed,  and  the  prisoners 
sent  out  a  messenger,  to  see  if  they  could  not 
get  somebody  to  go  on  their  bail  bonds. 

Dick's  parting  with  Baxter  was  very  cordial. 
The  oldest  Rover  boy  realized  that  the  former 
bully  of  Putnam  Hall  was  greatly  changed  and 
that  he  had  done  him  a  great  service. 

"  I  wish  you  all  kinds  of  luck,  Dan,"  he  said. 
"  You've  got  a  nice  position  and  a  fine  girl,  and 
you  ought  to  do  well." 

"  Do  you  like  her,  Dick?  "  and  Dan  blushed  a 
little.  "  We  expect  to  be  married  soon." 

"  Well,  I  am  going  to  be  married  myself  be- 
fore long." 

"Is  that  so?  Good  enough!  I  guess  I  know 
the  girl,"  and  Dan  grinned. 

"  You  do,  Dan." 

"  Give  her  my  best  regards,  and  tell  her  I 
think  she  is  getting  the  best  fellow  in  the 
world ! "  said  Baxter,  and  shook  Dick's  hand. 
And  thus  the  two  former  enemies  parted. 

Dick  had  already  called  up  Mr.  Powell  on  the 
telephone,  telling  the  lawyer  of  what  had  oc- 
curred- Now  he  engaged  a  taxicab  to  take  him 


BROUGHT    TO    TERMS  285 

to  the  place  which  he  had  started  out  to  visit 
when  coming  to  Brooklyn.  It  was  rather  late, 
but  the  lawyer  had  persuaded  the  people  he  had 
come  to  see  to  wait. 

An  interview  lasting  over  an  hour  followed. 
The  lawyer  had  already  explained  many  things, 
and  now  Dick  told  of  others. 

"  You  have  opened  our  eyes,  Mr.  Rover,"  said 
one  of  the  men  present,  when  Dick  had  finished. 
"We  rather  suspected  Pelter,  Japson  &  Com- 
pany and  we  were  bewildered  by  what  your 
father  proposed  to  do.  Now  all  is  perfectly 
clear,  and,  if  you  wish  us  to  do  so,  we'll  stand 
by  your  father  to  the  end." 

"  Thank  you  very  much !  "  cried  the  youth,  in 
delight. 

"  Your  father  is  not  very  well,  you  say,"  said 
another  of  the  men.  "  In  that  case " 

"  I  am  going  to  transact  his  business  for  him, 
after  this,"  answered  Dick.  "He  is  going  to 
place  it  in  my  hands." 

"  You  are  rather  young,  Mr.  Rover.  But  the 
way  you  handled  those  brokers  shows  you  can 
do  things.  I  wish  you  success." 

"  I  shall  rely  upon  Mr.  Powell  for  assistance/* , 
said  Dick. 

"  And  I'll  do  what  I  can,"  put  in  the  lawyer. 

When  Dick  got  back  to  the  Outlook  Hotel  ft 


286        THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 

was  quite  late.  But  he  had  telephoned  to  his 
father,  so  Mr.  Rover  was  not  alarmed.  The 
youth  found  his  parent  smiling  pleasantry. 

"  Good  news  all  around ! "  cried  Anderson 
Rover. 

"  Then  you've  heard  from  Sam?  "  asked  Dick, 
quickly. 

"  Yes,  he  sent  in  word  about  an  hour  ago. 
Tom  is  doing  very  well,  and  the  specialist  says 
he  will  soon  be  himself  again." 

"  That's  the  best  news  yet ! "  cried  Dick,  and 
his  face  showed  his  relief. 

"Yes,  it  is  even  better  than  this  news  you 
sent  me — that  Pelter  and  Japson  have  been  cap- 
tured." 

"  Well,  I  am  mighty  glad  we  rounded  up  those 
rascals,"  said  the  son. 

"  So  am  I." 

"Did  Sam  say  anything  about  Crabtree?" 

"  He  said  Crabtree  was  about  the  same.  The 
doctors  are  doing  what  they  can  for  him. 
But  he  will  most  likely  be  a  cripple  for 
•  life." 

"  Thai's  bad.  But  he  has  nobody  to  blame  but 
himself." 

After  that  Dick  had  to  sit  down  and  tell  his 
father  the  details  of  all  that  had  occurred.  Then 
he  got  a  late  supper,  and  some  time  after  that 


BROUGHT    TO    TERMS  287 

he  amd  his  parent  retired.    The  youth  was  thor- 
oughly tired  out,  but  happy. 

The  next  few  days  were  as  busy  as  those 
just  past  had  been.  Dick  and  his  father  ran  up 
to  where  Tom  lay  in  the  hospital.  They  found 
the  sufferer  had  come  to  his  senses.  Sam  and 
a  nurse  were  with  him. 

"  Oh,  I'll  be  all  right  again,  in  a  few  days ! " 
cried  Tom,  with  a  brave  attempt  at  a  smile.  "  I 
guess  I  fared  better  than  old  Crabtree.  They 
tell  me  he'll  limp  for  life." 

"  Limp  for  life !  "  cried  Dick. 

"That  is  what  they  say." 

"  What  a  terrible  affliction ! "  murmured  the 
oldest  Rover  boy.  "  But  he  has  nobody  to  blame 
but  himself." 

"Tom,  are  you  quite  comfortable  here?" 
asked  Mr.  Rover,  anxiously. 

"  Oh,  yes,  they  do  all  they  can  for  me,  Dad," 
was  the  answer. 

"  We  must  send  you  home  as  soon  as  we 
can." 

"  Well,  I'll  be  willing  to  go,"  returned  Tom. 
He  thought  of  the  quiet  farm,  and  of  hih 
Aunt  Martha's  motherly  care,  and  gave  a  deep 

sigh. 

"  He  can  be  moved  in  four  or  five  days— the 
doctor  said  so,"  put  in  Sam.  "I've  figured  it 


288       THE  ROVER   BOYS   IN   NEW    YORK 

all  out.  We  can  take  him  to  the  train  in  an 
auto,  and  I'll  see  that  he  gets  to  Oak  Run  all 
right.  There  Jack  can  meet  us  with  our  own 
machine,  and  the  rest  will  be  easy." 

"  I  can  go  along,"  said  Dick. 

"  It  won't  be  necessary,  Dick,"  said  Tom. 
"  You  stay  in  New  York  and  get  Dad's  affairs 
straightened  out." 

The  matter  was  talked  over,  and  it  was  at 
length  decided  that  Sam  should  remain  with 
Tom  and  take  him  home,  while  Mr.  Rover  and 
Dick  returned  to  the  city. 

Four  days  later  the  youngest  Rover  got  per- 
mission from  the  specialist  who  had  attended 
Tom  to  take  him  home.  An  easy-riding  auto- 
mobile was  procured,  and  in  this  the  two  brothers 
drove  to  the  nearest  railroad  station.  A  com- 
partment in  a  parlor  car  had  already  been  en- 
gaged, and  Tom  was  placed  in  this  and  made  as 
comfortable  as  circumstances  permitted.  The 
ride  was  a  long  and  tedious  one  for  the  youth, 
and  by  the  time  he  had  made  the  necessary 
changes  to  get  to  Oak  Run  he  was  pretty  well 
exhausted,  and  had  a  severe  headache. 

"  Poor  boy !  "  murmured  the  hired  man,  who 
had  brought  the  family  touring  car  to  the  sta- 
tion. 

**  Dis  am  de  wust  yet,  de  werry  wust ! "  came 


BROUGHT    TO    TERMS  289 

from  Aleck  Pop,  who  had  come  along.  Both 
men  aided  Sam  in  getting  Tom  into  the  car, 
and  then  Jack  started  for  Valley  Brook  farm, 
running  the  machine  with  the  greatest  possible 
care. 

Aunt  Martha  stood  on  the  piazza  ready  to 
receive  the  boys,  and  when  she  beheld  Tom's 
pale  face  the  tears  streamed  down  her  cheeks. 

"  My  boy !  My  poor  boy !  "  she  cried.  "  Oh, 
what  a  terrible  happening !  "  And  she  bent  over 
and  kissed  him. 

"  Oh,  don't  worry,  Aunt  Martha ;  I'll  soon  be 
myself  again,"  answered  Tom,  as  cheerfully  as 
his  spirits  permitted. 

"  I've  got  the  front  room  all  ready  for  you,"' 
went  on  the  aunt.  And  she  led  the  way  into  the 
house  and  to  the  apartment  in  question.  Here 
the  sufferer  was  put  to  bed,  and  his  aunt  did 
all  in  her  power  to  make  him  comfortable.  The 
local  doctor  had  already  been  notified,  and  soon 
he  appeared,  to  read  a  note  written  by  the  city 
specialist  and  listen  to  what  Sam  had  to  tell  him. 
Then  he  took  charge  and  said  Tom  must  be  kept 
very  quiet. 

"It  shall  be  as  you  say,  Doctor,"  said  Mrs. 
Rover.  And  after  that,  for  a  number  of  days, 
nobody  but  the  members  of  the  family  was  al- 
lowed to  go  in  and  talk  to  the  youth. 


290       THE  ROVER   BOYS   IN   NEW-  YORK 

In  the  meantime,  Dick  and  his  father  had 
several  interviews  with  their  lawyer,  and  also 
with  a  lawyer  who  represented  Pelter,  Japson, 
I  and  Belright  Fogg.  The  brokers  and  Fogg  were 
anxious  to  hush  matters  up,  and  promised  to  do 
whatever  was  wanted  by  the  Rovers  if  they 
would  drop  the  case  against  them. 

"  I  think  we  had  better  arrange  matters, 
Dick,"  said  Mr.  Rover,  with  a  sigh.  "  I  am 
tired  of  fighting.  If  they  will  do  the  fair  thing 
all  around,  let  them  go." 

"  Just  as  you  say,  Father,"  replied  Dick.  "  But 
they  must  give  up  everything  that  belongs  to  us." 

"  Well,  you  can  see  to  it  that  they  do — you 
and  Mr.  Powell,"  answered  Anderson  Rover. 
"  I  am  going  back  to  the  farm  to  rest,  and  after 
that  I  think  I'll  travel  a  little  for  my  health." 

"All  right,  Dad.  But— but "  Dick  stam- 
mered and  grew  red.  "  You — er — you  won't  go 
away  until  after  my  wedding,  will  you?" 

"  No,  Dick,  I'll  stay  home  until  after  you  and 
Dora  are  married,"  answered  Mr.  Rover,  with 
a  quiet  smile. 


MRS.   DICK   ROVER — CONCLUSION 

"THE  day  of  days,  Dick!" 

"  Right  you  are,  Sam !    And  what  a  perfect 

day  it  is ! " 

"  Oh,  I  had  this  weather  made  to  order,"  came 
from  Tom  Rover,  with  a  grin. 

"How  do  you  feel,  Tom?"  questioned  his  big 
brother  kindly,  as  he  turned  away  from  the 
window  to  look  at  the  lad  who  had  been  hurt. 

"  Oh,  I'm  as  chipper  as  a  catbird  with  two 
tails ! "  sang  out  the  fun-loving  Rover.  But  his 
pale  face  was  not  in  keeping  with  his  words. 
Tom  was  not  yet  himself.  But  he  wasn't  going 
to  show  it — especially  on  Dick's  wedding  day. 

All  of  the  Rovers  had  come  up  to  Cedar ville 
and  they  were  now  stopping  at  the  home  of  Mr. 
Laning,  the  father  of  Grace  and  Nellie.  As  my 
old  readers  know,  the  Stanhopes  lived  but  £ 
short  distance  away,  and  nearby  was  Putnam 
Hall,  where  the  boys  had  spent  so  many  happy 

days. 

291 


292       THE  ROVER   BOYS   IN   NEW    YORK 

Dora  had  left  Hope  as  soon  as  it  was  settled 
that  she  and  Dick  should  be  married,  and  she 
and  her  mother,  and  the  others,  had  been  busy 
for  some  time  getting  ready  for  the  wedding. 
Nellie  and  Grace  were  also  home,  and  were  as 
much  excited  as  Dora  herself,  for  they  were 
both  to  be  bridesmaids.  The  girls  had  spent 
several  days  in  New  York,  shopping,  and  a 
dressmaker  from  the  city  had  been  called  in  to 
dress  the  young  ladies  as  befitted  the  occasion. 

Tom  was  to  be  Dick's  best  man,  while  Sam 
was  to  head  the  ushers  at  the  church — the  other 
ushers  being  Songbird,  Stanley,  Fred  Garrison, 
Larry  Colby,  and  Bart  Conners.  A  delegation 
of  students  from  Brill — including  William  Phi- 
lander Tubbs — had  also  come  up,  and  were  quar- 
tered at  the  Cedarville  Hotel. 

The  wedding  was  to  take  place  at  the  Cedar- 
ville Union  Church,  a  quaint  little  stone  edifice, 
covered  with  ivy,  which  the  Stanhopes  and  the 
Lanings  both  attended  and  which  the  Rover  boys 
had  often  visited  while  they  were  cadets  at  Put- 
nam Hall.  The  interior  of  the  church  was  a 
mass  of  palms,  sent  up  on  the  boat  from  Ithaca. 

Following  the  sending  out  of  the  invitations 
to  the  wedding,  presents  had  come  in  thick  and 
fast  to  the  Stanhope  home.  From  Dick's  father 
came  an  elegant  silver  servdce,  and  from  his 


MRS.   DICK   ROVER  293 

brothers  a  beautifully-decorated  dinner  set;  while 
Uncle  Randolph  and  Aunt  Martha  contributed  a 
fine  set  of  the  latest  encyclopaedias,  and  a  spe- 
cially-bound volume  of  the  uncle's  book  on  sci- 
entific farming!  Mr.  Anderson  Rover  also  con- 
tributed a  bank  book  with  an  amount  written 
therein  that  nearly  took  away  Dora's  breath. 

"  Oh,  Dick,  just  look  at  the  sum ! "  she  cried. 

"It  sure  is  a  tidy  nest  egg,"  smiled  the  hus- 
band-to-be. "  I  knew  dad  would  come  down 
handsomely.  He's  the  best  dad  ever  was!" 

"  Yes,  Dick,  and  I  know  I  am  going  to  love 
him  just  as  if  I  was  his  own  daughter,"  an- 
swered Dora. 

Mrs.  Stanhope  gave  her  daughter  much  of  the 
family  silver  and  jewelry,  and  also  a  full  supply 
of  table  and  other  linen.  From  Captain  Putnam 
came  a  handsome  morris  chair,  and  Songbird 
sent  in  a  beautifully-bound  volume  of  household 
poetry,  with  a  poem  of  his  own  on  the  flyleaf. 
The  students  of  Brdll  sent  in  a  fine  oil  painting 
in  a  gold  frame,  and  the  girls  at  Hope  contrib- 
uted an  inlaid  workbox  with  a  complete  sewing 
outfit.  From  Dan  Baxter,  who  had  been  invited, 
along  with  the  young  lady  to  whom  he  was  en- 
gaged, came  two  gold  napkin  rings,  each  suit- 
,ably  engraved.  Dan  had  written  to  Dick,  say- 
'ing  he  would  come  to  the  wedding  if  he  had  to 


294       THE  ROVER   BOYS   IN  NEW    YORK 

take  a  week  off  to  get  there,  he  being  then  in 
Washington  on  a  business  trip. 

The  wedding  was  to  take  place  at  high  noon, 
and  long  before  that  time  the  many  guests  began 
to  assemble  at  the  church.  Among  the  first  to 
arrive  was  Captain  Putnam,  in  military  uniform, 
and  attended  by  about  a  dozen  of  the  Halt 
cadets.  George  Strong,  the  head  teacher,  was 
also  present,  for  he  and  Dick  had  always  been 
good  friends.  Then  came  the  students  from 
Brill,  all  in  full  dress,  and  led  by  William  Phi- 
lander Tubbs,  bedecked  as  only  that  dudish  stu- 
dent would  think  of  bedecking  himself. 

The  Lanings  and  Mrs.  Stanhope  came  to- 
gether and  the  Rovers  followed  closely.  Soon 
the  little  church  was  packed  and  many  stood 
outside,  unable  to  get  in.  The  organ  was  play- 
ing softly. 

Suddenly  the  bell  in  the  tower  struck  twelve. 
As  the  last  stroke  died  away  the  organ  peeled 
forth  in  the  grand  notes  of  the  wedding  march. 
Then  came  the  wedding  party  up  the  middle  aisle, 
a  little  flower  girl  preceding  them.  Dora  was 
on  her  uncle's  arm,  and  wore  white  satin,  dain- 
tily embroidered,  and  carried  a  bouquet  of  bridal 
roses.  Around  her  neck  was  a  string  of  pearls 
Dick  had  given  her.  The  bridesmaids  were  in 
pink  and  also  carried  bouquets. 


MRS.   DICK   ROVER 


295 


Dick  was  already  at  the  altar  to  meet  his 
bride,  and  then  began  the  solemn  ceremony  that 
made  the  pair  one  for  life.  It  was  simple  and 
short,  and  at  the  conclusion  Dick  kissed  Dora 
tenderly. 

The  organ  peeled  out  once  more,  and  the 
happy  couple  marched  from  the  church,  every- 
body gazing  after  them  in  admiration. 

"  A  fine  couple,"  was  Captain  Putnam's  com- 
ment. "A  fine  couple,  truly!" 

"  Yes,  indeed ! "  echoed  George  Strong.  "  I 
wish  them  every  happiness." 

"  A  perfectly  splendid  wedding,  don't  you 
know ! "  lisped  William  Philander  Tubbs. 
"Why,  I  really  couldn't  run  it  off  better 
myself!" 

"  It  was  all  to  the  merry ! "  was  Stanley's 
comment.  "'She's  a  dandy  girl,  too — wish  I 
had  one  half  as  good." 

"Dick  Rover  deserves  the  best  girl  in  the 
world,"  was  Songbird's  conclusion.  "  He  is  the 
finest  fellow  I  know,  barring  none." 

"I  suppose  you'll  get  up  a  poem  about  this, 
Songbird,"  suggested  one  of  the  other  students. 

"  Perhaps,"  was  the  answer,  and  the  would-be 
poet  smiled  in  a  dreamy  fashion. 

"  It  seems  only  yesterday  that  the  Rover  boys 
came  to  the  Hall,"  remarked  Captain  Putnam,  to 


296       THE  ROVER   BOYS   IN   NEW    YORK 

one  of  his  friends.     "  My,  how  the  years  have 
flown!" 

"  But  they  are  still  boys — at  least  Tom  and 
Sam  are,"  was  the  ready  reply.     "And  Tom  is  , 
just  as  full  of  sport  as  he  ever  was — I  don't  be- , 
lieve  he'll  ever  settle  down." 

"  Time  will  tell.  But  with  all  his  fun  he  is  a 
good  lad  at  heart — and  that  is  what  counts." 

"  Right  you  are,  Captain  Putnam.  I 
wouldn't  giye  a  rap  for  a  lad  who  didn't  have 
some  fun  in  his  make-up." 

"  All  of  them  had  plenty  of  fun  while  they 
were  at  my  school.  They  cut  up  a  good  deal 
sometimes.  But  I  liked  them  all  the  better  for 
it,  somehow,"  concluded  the  captain,  with  a 
twinkle  in  his  eyes. 

Carriages  and  automobiles  were  in  waiting, 
and  Dick  and  his  bride,  along  with  their  rela- 
tives and  many  friends,  were  quickly  whirled 
away  to  the  Stanhope  home.  Here  followed 
numerous  congratulations,  interspersed  with  not 
a  few  kisses.  Mrs.  Stanhope's  eyes  were  still  fuO 
of  tears,  but  she  smiled  at  her  newly-made  son- 
in-law. 

"It's  all  right,  Dick!"  she  whispered.     "I'm\ 
not  a  bit  sorry.     But — but  a  woman  can't  help 
crying  when  she  sees  her  only  girl  getting  mar- 
ried." 


MRS.    DICK    ROVER 


297 


"  You  are  not  going  to  lose  Dora,"  he  an- 
swered, tenderly.  "  You  are  going  to  get  a  son, 
that's  all." 

A  long  table  had  been  spread,  from  the  din- 
ing-room to  the  sitting-room,  with  another  table 
in  the  library,  and  soon  a  grand  wedding  dinner 
was  in  progress.  Dora  sat  at  her  husband's  side, 
and  never  did  a  pair  feel  or  look  more  happy. 
Close  at  hand  was  Tom,  paying  his  attentions  to 
Nellie,  and  at  the  smaller  table  Sam  was  doing 
his  best  to  entertain  Grace.  Mr.  Anderson  Rover 
sat  beside  Mrs.  Stanhope,  and  not  far  away 
were  the  others  of  the  families. 

"Well,  they  are  married  at  last,"  said  Mr. 
Rover  to  Mrs.  Stanhope.  "  I,  for  one,  am  well 
satisfied.  I  think  they  will  get  along  well  to- 
gether." 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Rover,  I  think  they  will  get  along 
finely,"  answered  Mrs.  Stanhope.  "  I  liked  Dick 
from  the  first  time  I  met  him — and  Dora — well, 
there  was  nobody  else  after  he  came  into  view," 
and  she  smiled  faintly.  Then  her  eyes  traveled 
over  to  where  Tom  and  Nellie  were  talking  ear- 
nestly, and  his  followed.  "I  think  that  is  an- 
other pair,"  she  whispered. 

"I  shouldn't  wonder,"  was  the  reply.  "But 
they  can  wait  a  while.  Tom  is  rather  young 
yet" 


298       THE   ROVER   BOYS   IN   NEW   YORK 

"  He  looks  rather  pale." 

"  Yes,  that  blow  he  received  on  the  head  was 
a  'severe  one.  I  am  worried  about  it,"  went  on 
Mr.  Rover,  soberly. 

It  had  been  arranged  that  Dtck  and  Dora 
should  depart  on  a  honeymoon  trip  to  Washing- 
ton late  that  afternoon.  The  dinner  over,  the 
rooms  were  cleared,  and  the  young  folks  enjoyed 
themselves  in  dancing,  an  orchestra  having  been 
engaged  for  that  purpose. 

"  How  perfectly  happy  they  all  seem  to  be ! " 
remarked  Aunt  Martha  to  Anderson  Rover,  as 
they  sat  watching  the  dancing. 

"  Yes,"  he  answered.  "  I  trust  that  nothing 
happens  to  make  it  otherwise  after  this." 

"  Oh,  something  is  bound  to  happen  to  those 
boys !  "  murmured  the  aunt.  "  You  simply  can't 
hold  them  in !  "  And  something  did  happen,  and 
what  is  was  will  be  related  in  the  next  volume  of 
this  series,  to  be  entitled :  "  The  Rover  Boys  in 
Alaska;  Or,  Lost  in  the  Fields  of  Ice."  In  that 
book  we  shall  learn  how  Tom  suddenly  lost  his 
mind  and  wandered  away  from  home,  and  what 
strenuous  things  happened  to  Dick  and  Sam' 
when  they  went  after  their  brother. 

But  for  the  time  being  all  went  well.  The 
young  folks  danced  to  their  hearts'  content,  and 
Tom  kept  them  roaring  over  the  many  jokes  he 


MRS.    DICK    ROVER  2GQ 

had  saved  up  for  the  occasion.  His  head  ached 
a  good  deal,  but  he  refused  to  let  anybody  know 
about  it. 

Then  came  the  time  for  Dick  and  Dora  te 
depart  An  auto  was  at  the  door,  gaily  deco- 
rated with  white  ribbons,  and  bearing  on  the 
back  a  sign  painted  by  Tom  which  read,  "  We're 
fust  Married."  Another  auto  was  in  the  back- 
yard, to  take  some  of  the  guests  to  the  steam- 
boat dock. 

"  Good-bye ! "  was  the  cry,  as  the  pair  came 
down  the  stairs,  ready  for  the  trip.  "  Good-bye 
and  good  luck ! "  And  then  came  a  generous 
shower  oi  rice  and  several  did  shoes.  Dora 
kissed  her  mother  for  the  last  time  and  she  and 
Dick  hurried  to  the  auto.  Away  they  went,  and 
the  other  auto  after  them,  Tom  and  Sam  and 
some  others  tooting  horns  and  the  girls  shriek- 
ing gaily. 

"  To  the  steamboat  dock,  I  suppose,"  said  the 
driver  of  the  auto,  to  Dick. 

"  Not  much !  "  cried  the  newly-married  youth. 
"  Here  is  where  we  fool  them.  Straight  for. 
Ithaca,  and  as  fast  as  the  law  allows ! " 

"  I  get  you,"  replied  the  chauffeur,  grinning. 

"We  want  to  catch  the  seven- forty-five  train 
for  New  York,"  went  on  Dick. 

"  We'll  do  it,  sir,"  was  the  answer,  and  then 


300 


THE  ROVER   BOYS   IN  NEW    YORK 


the  auto  driver  turned  on  the  speed,  made  a 
whirl  around  a  corner  of  the  road,  and  ki  a 
minute  more  was  on  the  way  to  Ithaca,  with 
the  second  car  far  behind. 

"  Hello !  he's  given  us  the  slip ! "  cried  Sam, 
in  dismay. 

"  Never  mind,  let  them  go ! "  whispered  Grace. 

"Yes,  we've  had  fun  enough,"  added  Nellie. 
"  Oh,  what  a  grand  wedding  it  has  been ! "  she 
added,  with  a  sigh.  And  then,  when  Tom 
squeezed  her  hand,  she  blushed. 

In  the  other  automobile,  Dora  and  Dick  sat 
close  together  on  the  back  seat.  Under  the  robe 
her  hand,  the  one  with  the  wedding  ring  upon 
it,  was  clasped  tightly  within  his  own. 

"Glad?"  he  whispered. 

"Perfectly,"  she  answered. 


THE  ENB> 


Would  you  like  to  know  what 
became  of  the  good  friends  you 
have  made  in  this  book? 

Would  you  like  to  read  other 
stories  continuing  their  adventures 
and  experiences,  or  other  books 
quite  as  entertaining  by  the  same 
author  ? 

On  the  reverse  side  of  the  wrap- 
per which  comes  with  this  book, 
you  will  find  a  wonderful  list  of 
stories  which  you  can  buy  at  the 
same  store  where  you  got  this  book. 

Don't  throw  away  the  Wrapper 

Use  it  as  a  handy  catalog  of  the  books 
you  want  some  day  to  have.  ^But  in 
case  you  do  mislay  it,  write  to  the 
Publishers  for  a  complete  catalog. 


THE  FAMOUS  ROVER  BOYS 
SERIES 

By  ARTHUR  M.  WINFIELD 

(EDWARD  STRATEMEYER) 
Beautiful  Wrappers  in  Full  Color 


No  stories  for  boys  ever  published 
have  attained  the  tremendous  popu- 
larity of  this  famous  series.  Since  the 
publication  of  the  first  volume,  The 
Rover  Boys  at  School,  some  years  ago, 
over  three  million  copies  of  these 
books  have  been  sold.  They  are  well 
written  stories  dealing  with  the  Rover 
boys  in  a  great  many  different  kinds 
of  activities  and  adventures.  Each 
volume  holds  something  of  interest  to 
every  adventure  loving  boy. 

A  complete  list  of  titles  is  printed 
on  the  opposite  page. 


FAMOUS  ROVER  BOYS  SERIES 

BY  ARTHUR  M.  WINFIELD 

(Edward  Stratemeyer) 
OVER  THREE  MILLION  COPIES  SOLD  OF  THIS  SERIES. 

Uniform  Style  of  Binding.     Colored  Wrappers. 
Every  Volume  Complete  in  Itself. 

THE  ROVER  BOYS  AT  SCHOOL 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  OCEAN 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  JUNGLE 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  OUT  WEST 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  GREAT  LAKES 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  LAND  AND  SEA 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  CAMP 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  RIVER 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  PLAINS 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  SOUTHERN  WATERS 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  THE  FARM 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  TREASURE  ISLE 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  AT  COLLEGE 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  DOWN  EAST 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  AIR 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  NEW  YORK 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  ALASKA 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  BUSINESS 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  A  TOUR 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  AT  COLBY  HALL 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  SNOWSHOE  ISLAND 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  UNDER  CANVAS 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  A  HUNT 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  IN  THE  LAND  OF  LUCK 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  AT  BIG  HORN  RANCH 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  AT  BIG  BEAR  LAKE 
.1  THE  ROVER  BOYS  SHIPWRECKED 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  ON  SUNSET  TRAIL 
THE  ROVER  BOYS  WINNING  A  FORTUNE 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,          PUBLISHERS,          NEW  YORK 


WESTERN  STORIES  FOR  BOYS 

By  JAMES  CODY  FERRIS 

Individual  Colored  Wrappers  and  Illustration*  by 
WALTER  S.  ROGERS 

Each  Volume  Complete  in  Itself. 

Thrilling  tales  of  the  great  west,  told  primarily  for 
boys  but  which  will  be  read  by  all  who  love  mystery, 
rapid  action,  and  adventures  in  the  great  open  spaces. 

The  Manly  Boys,  Roy  and  Teddy,  are  the  sons  of 
an  old  ranchman,  the  owner  of  many  thousands  of 
heads  of  cattle.  The  lads  know  how  to  ride,  how  to 
shoot,  and  how  to  take  care  of  themselves  under  any 
and  all  circumstances. 

The  cowboys  of  the  X  Bar  X  Ranch  are  real  cow- 
boys, on  the  job  when  required  but  full  of  fun  and 
daring — a  bunch  any  reader  will  be  delighted  to  know. 

THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  ON  THE  RANCH 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  IN  THUNDER  CANYON 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  ON  WHIRLPOOL  RIVER 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  ON  BIG  BISON  TRAIL 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  AT  THE  ROUND-UP 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  AT  NUGGET  CAMP 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  AT  RUSTLER'S  GAP 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  AT  GRIZZLY  PASS 
THE  X  BAR  X  BOYS  LOST  IN  THE  ROCKIES 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,    PUBLISHERS,  NEW  YORK 


THE  TED  SCOTT  FLYING  STORIES 

B9  FRANKLIN  W.  DIXOM 

illustrated.    Each  Volume  Complete  in  Itself. 

No  subject  has  so  thoroughly  caught  the  imagination  of 
youngAmerica  as  aviation.  This  series  has  been  inspired 
by  recent  daring  feats  of  the  air,  and  is  dedicated  to  Lind- 
berg,  Byrd,  Chamberlin  and  other  heroes  of  the  skies. 

OVER  THE  OCEAN  TO  PARIS ; 

or  Ted  Scott's  daring  long  distance  flight. 

RESCUED  IN  THE  CLOUDS; 

or,  Ted  Scott,  Hero  of  the  Air. 

OVER  THE  ROCKIES  WITH  THE  AIR  MAIL  ; 

or,  Ted  Scott,  Lost  in  the  Wilderness. 

FIRST  STOP  HONOLULU; 

or,  Ted  Scott,  over  tfie  Pacific. 

THE  SEARCH  FOR  THE  LOST  FLYERS ; 

or,  Ted  Scott,  Over  the  West  Indies. 

SOUTH  OF  THE  RIO  GRANDE ; 

or,  Ted  Scott,  On  a  Secret  Mission. 

ACROSS  THE  PACIFIC; 

or,  Ted  Scotfs  Hop  to  Australia. 

THE  LONE  EAGLE  OF  THE  BORDER ; 

or,  Ted  Scott  and  the  Diamond  Smugglers. 

FLYING  AGAINST  TIME ; 

or,  Breaking  the  Ocean  to  Ocean  Record. 

OVER  THE  JUNGLE  TRAILS  ; 

or,  Ted  Scott  and  the  Missing  Explorers. 
LOST  AT  THE  SOUTH  POLE; 
or,  Ted  Scott  in  Blizzard  Land. 
THROUGH  THE  AIR  TO  ALASKA ; 

or,   Ted  Scotfs  Search  in  Nugget  Valley. 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  Publishers,  NEW  YORK 


THE  HARDY  BOY'S  SERIES 

By  FRANKLIN  W.  DIXON 

Illustrated.     Ev*ry  Volume  Complete  hi  Itself. 

HTHE  HARDY  BOYS  are  sons  of  a  celebrated  Ameri- 
can  detective,  and  during  vacations  and  their  off  time 
from  school  they  help  their  father  by  hunting  down  clues 
themselves. 

THE  TOWER  TREASURE 

A  dying  criminal  confessed  that  his  loot  had  been  secreted  "in  the 
tower."  It  remained  for  the  Hardy  Boys  to  make  an  astonishing  discovery 
that  cleared  up  the  mystery. 

THE  HOUSE  ON  THE  CLIFF 

The  house  had  been  vacant  and  was  supposed  to  be  haunted.  Mr.  Hardy 
started  to  investigate— and  disappeared  I  An  odd  tale,  with  plenty  of  ex- 
citement. 

THE  SECRET  OF  THE  OLD  MILL 

Counterfeit  money  was  in  circulation,  and  the  limit  was  reached  when 
Mrs.  Hardy  took  some  from  a  stranger.  A  tale  full  of  thrills. 

THE  MISSING  CHUMS 

Two  of  the  Hardy  Boys'  chums  take  a  motor  trip  down  the  coast.  They 
disappear  and  are  almost  rescued  by  their  friends  when  all  are  captured. 
A  thrilling  story  of  adventure. 

HUNTING  FOR  HIDDEN  GOLD 

Mr.  Hardy  is  injured  in  tracing  some  stolen  gold.  A  hnnt  by  the  boys 
leads  to  an  abandoned  mine,  and  there  things  start  to  happen.  A  western 
story  all  boys  will  enjoy. 

THE  SHORE  ROAD  MYSTERY 

Automobiles  were  disappearing  most  mysteriously  from  the  Shore  Road* 
It  remained  for  the  Hardy  Boys  to  solve  the  mystery. 

THE  SECRET  OF  THE  CAVES 

When  the  boys  reached  the  caves  they  came  unexpectedly  upon  a  queer 
old  hermit. 

THE  MYSTERY  OF  CABIN  ISLAND 

A  story  of  queer  adventures  on  a  rockbound  island. 

THE  GREAT  AIRPORT  MYSTERY 

The  Hardy  Boys  solve'.the'  mystery  of  the  disappearance  of  some  valua- 
ble mail. 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  Publishers,  NEW  YORK 


THE    TOM    SWIFT    SERIES 

By  VICTOR  APPLETON 

Uniform  Style  of    Binding.     Individual  Colored  Wrappers. 
Every  Volume  Complete  in  Itself. 

Every  boy  possesses  some  form  of  inventive  genius.  Tom  Swift 
is  a.  bright,  ingenious  boy  and  his  inventions  and  adventures  make 
the  most  interesting  kind  of  reading. 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  MOTOR  CYCLE 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  MOTOR  BOAT 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  AIRSHIP 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  SUBMARINE  BOAT 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  WIRELESS  MESSAGE 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  ELECTRIC  RUNABOUT 

TOM  SWIFT  AMONG  THE  DIAMOND  MAKERS 

TOM  SWIFT  IN  THE  CAVES  OF  ICE 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  SKY  RACER 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  ELECTRIC  RIFLE 

TOM  SWIFT  IN  THE  CITY  OF  GOLD 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  AIR  GLIDER 

TOM  SWIFT  IN  CAPTIVITY 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  WIZARD  CAMERA 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  GREAT  SEARCHLIGHT 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  GIANT  CANNON 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  PHOTO  TELEPHONE 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  AERIAL  WARSHIP 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  BIG  TUNNEL 

TOM  SWIFT  IN  THE  LAND  OF  WONDERS 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  WAR  TANK 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  AIR  SCOUT 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  UNDERSEA  SEARCH 

TOM  SWIFT  AMONG  THE  FIRE  FIGHTERS 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  ELECTRIC  LOCOMOTIVE 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  FLYING  BOAT 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  GREAT  OIL  GUSHER 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  CHEST  OF  SECRETS 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  AIRLINE  EXPRESS 

TOM  SWIFT  CIRCLING  THE  GLOBE 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  TALKING  PICTURES 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  HOUSE  ON  WHEELS 

TOM  SWIFT  AND  HIS  BIG  DIRIGIBLE 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,   Publishers,  NEW  YORK 


THE  DON  STURDY  SERIES 

By  VICTOR  APPLETON 
Author  of  "  The  Tom  Swift  Series  " 

Every  red-blooded  boy  will  enjoy  the  thrilling  adventures 
of  Don  Sturdy.  In  company  with  his  uncles,  one  a  big 
game  hunter,  the  other  a  noted  scientist,  he  travels  far  and 
wide — into  the  jungles  of  South  America,  across  the  Sahara, 
deep  into  the  African  jungle,  up  where  the  Alaskan  volca- 
noes spout,  down  among  the  head  hunters  of  Borneo  and 
many  other  places  where  there  is  danger  and  excitement. 
Every  boy  who  has  known  Tom  Swift  will  at  once  become 
the  boon  companion  of  daring  Don  Sturdy. 

DON  STURDY  ON  THE  DESERT  OF  MYSTERY 

DON  STURDY  WITH  THE  BIG  SNAKE  HUNTERS 

DON  STURDY  IN  THE  TOMBS  OF  GOLD 

DON  STURDY  ACROSS  THE  NORTH  POLE 

DON  STURDY  IN  THE  LAND  OF  VOLCANOES 

DON  STURDY  IN  THE  PORT  OF  LOST  SHIPS 

DON  STURDY  AMONG  THE  GORILLAS 

DON  STURDY  CAPTURED  BY  HEAD  HUNTERS 

DON  STURDY  IN  LION  LAND 

DON  STURDY  IN  THE  LAND  OF  GIANTS 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  Publishers,  NEW  YORK 


THE   RADIO   BOYS   SERIES 

(Trademark  Registered) 

By  ALLEN  CHAPMAN 
Author  of  the  "Railroad  Series,"  Etc. 

Illustrated.     Every  Volume  Complete  in  Itself. 

Here  is  a  series  that  gives  full  details  of  radio  work 
both  in  sending  and  receiving — how  large  and  small  sets 
can  be  made  and  operated,  and  with  this  real  information 
there  are  the  stories  of  the  radio  boys  and  their  adventures. 
Each  story  is  a  record  of  thrilling  adventures — rescues,  nar- 
row escapes  from  death,  daring  exploits  in  which  the  radio 
plays  a  main  part.  Each  volume  is  so  thoroughly  fascin- 
ating, so  strictly  up-to-date,  and  accurate  that  all  modern 
boys  will  peruse  them  with  delight. 

Each  volume  has  a  foreword  by  Jack  Binns,  the  well 
known  radio  expert. 

THE  RADIO  BOYS  FIRST  WIRELESS 

THE  RADIO  BOYS  AT  OCEAN  POINT 

THE  RADIO  BOYS  AT  THE  SENDING  STATION 

THE  RADIO  BOYS  AT  MOUNTAIN  PASS 

THE  RADIO  BOYS  TRAILING  A  VOICE 

THE  RADIO  BOYS  WITH  THE  FOREST  RANGERS 

THE  RADIO  BOYS  WITH  THE  ICEBERG  PATROL 

THE  RADIO  BOYS  WITH  THE  FLOOD  FIGHTERS 

THE  RADIO  BOYS  ON  SIGNAL  ISLAND 

THE  RADIO  BOYS  IN  GOLD  VALLEY 

THE  RADIO  BOYS  AIDING  THE  SNOWBOUND 

THE  RADIO  BOYS  ON  THE  PACIFIC 

THE  RADIO  BOYS  TO  THE  RESCUE 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,   Publishers,  NEW  YORK 


Football  and  Baseball  Stories 

Durably  Bound.     Illustrated.     Colored  Wrappers 
Every  Volume  Complete  in  Itself. 

The  Ralph  Henry  Barbour  Books  For  Boys 

In  these  up-to  the  minute,  spirited  genuine  stories  of  boy  life 
there  is  something  which  will  appeal  to  every  boy  with  the  love 
of  manliness,  cleanness  and  sportsmanship  in  his  heart. 

LEFT  END  EDWARDS 
LEFT  TACKLE  THAYER 
LEFT  GUARD  GILBERT 
CENTER  RUSH  ROWLAND 
FULLBACK  FOSTER 
LEFT  HALF  HARMON 
RIGHT  END  EMERSON 
RIGHT  GUARD  GRANT 
QUARTERBACK  BATES 
RIGHT  TACKLE  TODD 
RIGHT  HALF  HOLLINS 

The  Tod  Hale  Series 

TOD  HALE  IN  CAMP 

TOD  HALE  WITH  THE  CREW 

TOD  HALE  ON  THE  SCRUB 

The  Christy  Mathewson  Books  For  Bo$s 

Every  boy  wants  to  know  how  to  play  ball  in  the  fairest  and 
squarest  way.  These  books  about  boys  and  baseball  are  full  of 
wholesome  and  manly  interest  and  information. 

PITCHER  POLLOCK 
CATCHER  CRAIG 
FIRST  BASE  FAULKNER 
SECOND  BASE  SLOAN 
PITCHING  IN  A  PINCH 


THIRD  BASE  THATCHER,  By  Everett  Scott. 
GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,    PUBLISHERS,  NEW  YORK 


THE  REX  LEE  FLYING  STORIES 

By  THOMSON  BURTIS 

Illustrated.    Every  Volume  Complete  in  Itself. 

The  author  of  this  series  of  exciting  flying  stories 
is  an  experienced  aviator.  He  says,  "  During  my  five 
years  in  the  army  I  performed  nearly  every  sort  of 
flying  duty — instructor,  test  pilot,  bombing,  photo- 
graphing pilot,  etc.,  in  every  variety  of  ship,  from  tiny 
scout  planes  to  the  gigantic  three-motored  Italian 
Caproni." 

Not  only  has  this  author  had  many  experiences  as 
a  flyer ;  a  list  of  his  activities  while  knocking  around 
the  country  includes  postal  clerk,  hobo,  actor,  writer, 
mutton  chop  salesman,  preacher,  roughneck  in  the  oil 
fields,  newspaper  man,  flyer,  scenario  writer  in  Holly- 
wood and  synthetic  clown  with  the  Sells  Floto  Circus. 
Having  lived  an  active,  daring  life,  and  possessing  a 
gift  for  good  story  telling,  he  is  well  qualified  to  write 
these  adventures  of  a  red-blooded  dare-devil  young 
American  who  became  one  of  the  country's  greatest 
flyers. 

REX  LEE ;  GYPSY  FLYER 

REX  LEE;  ON  THE  BORDER  PATROL 

REX  LEE ;  RANGER  OF  THE  SKY 

REX  LEE ;  SKY  TRAILER 

REX  LEE ;  ACE  OF  THE  AIR  MAIL 

REX  LEE;  NIGHT  FLIER 

REX  LEE'S  MYSTERIOUS  FLIGHT 

REX  LEE;  ROUGH  RIDER  OF  THE  AIR 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,    Publishers,    NEW  YORK 


FLYING  STORIES  FOR  BOYS 

IN  THE  AIR  WITH  ANDY  LANE 
By  EUSTACE  L  ADAMS 

Illustrated.      Every  Volume  Complete   in  Itself. 

Mr.  Adams,  the  autKor  of  this  flying  series  for  boys  is  an  ex- 
perienced aviator  and  has  had  many  thrilling  adventures  in  the 
air — both  as  a  member  of  the  famous  Lafayette  Escadrille  in 
the  World  War  and  in  the  United  States  Naval  Aviation 
Service  flying  with  the  squadrons  patrolling  the  Atlantic 
Coast.  His  stories  reveal  not  only  his  ability  to  tell  daring 
and  exciting  air  episodes  but  also  his  first  hand  knowledge  of 
modern  aeroplanes  and  the  marvelous  technical  improvements 
which  have  been  made  in  the  past  few  years.  Andy  Lane 
flies  the  latest  and  most  highly  developd  machines  in  the 
field  of  aviation. 

FIFTEEN  DAYS  IN  THE  AIR 

Andy  refuels  his  ship  in  the  air  and  sets  a  new  endurance  record. 

OVER  THE  POLAR  ICE 

In  a  giant  flying  boat  Andy  beats  his  enemy  in  a  dash  to  the  South  Pole. 

RACING  ROUND  THE  WORLD 

In  a  series  of  thrilling  flights  Andy  wins  an  air  dash  around  the  globe  to 
•win  a  $100,000  prize. 

THE  RUNAWAY  AIRSHIP 

Through  foggy  skies  Andy  Lane  brings  back  the  •world's  greatest  pas- 
senger carrying  dirigible,  blown  away  on  the  wings  of  a  storm. 

PIRATES  OF  THE  AIR 

Andy  Lane  pilots  the  giant  passenger  plane  Apex  No.  4  across  the  Atlan- 
tic in  the  face  of  almost  overwhelming  odds. 

ON  THE  WINGS  OF  FLAME 

Andy  makes  a  forced  landing  in  the  South  American  jungle  In  the  dead 
of  night  and  has  thrilling  experiences  •with  the  natives. 

THE  FLYING  WINDMILL 

Andy  Lane  and  his  restless  crew  take  off  in  a  monster  autogyro  in 
search  of  pirate  treasure. 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  Publishers,  NEW  YORK 


BUDDY  BOOKS  FOR 


forma 


Illustrated.     Individual  Colored  Wrapper* 

Tales  of  old  Western  pioneer  days  and  the  Califo____ 
gold  fields ;  tales  of  mystery,  humor,  adventure  ;  thrilling 
stories  of  sports  and  aviation.  There  is  a  wide  range  of  sub- 
jects in  this  list  of  titles— all  by  well-known  authors  of  books 
for  boys. 

LEFTY  LEIGHTON By  Percy-Reese  Fitzhugh 

NUMBER  44 By  Harold  M.  Sherman 

BILL  DARROW'S  VICTORY By  William  Heyliger 

THE  STORY  OF  TERRIBLE  TERRY. . .  .By  Percy  Keese  Fitzhugh 

BEYOND  THE  DOG'S  NOSE By  Harold  M.  Sherman 

DING  PALMER,  AIR  DETECTIVE By  Harold  M.  Sherman 

BEAN-BALL  BILL By  William  Heyliger 

MARK  GILMORE,  SCOUT  OF  THE  AIR. By  Percy  Keese  Fitzhugh 

CAMERON  MACBAIN,  BACKWOODS. 

MAN ^ By  Harold  M.  Sherman 

FLYING  HEELS * By  Harold  M.  Sherman 

FLASHING  STEEL By  Harold  M.Sherman 

BUFFALO  BOY. By  J.  Allan  Dunn 

THE  CLOUD  PATROL By  Irving  Crump 

SPIFFY  HENSHAW By  Percy  Keese  Fitzhugh 

THE  PILOT  OF  THE  CLOUD  PATROL By  Irving  Crump 

DON  RAIDER,  TRAIL  BLAZER By  Harold  M.  Sherman 

TUCK  SIMMS,  FORTY-NINER By  Edward  Leonard 

WIGWAG  WEIGAND By  Percy  Keese  Fitzhugh 

HERVEY  WILLETTS By  Percy  Keese  Fitzhugh 

SKINNY  McCORD By  Percy  Keese  Fitzhugh 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  Publishers,  NEW  YORK 


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